There was never a dull moment when Earth-chan was involved in their shenanigans! Panya was one of many players who had been notified about the sudden attack on the Forge on Ender Island, with numerous forces all gunning to try and destroy the one thing keeping everyone one step ahead of whatever dangers that would be coming their way! Upon receiving the call to action, Panya was quick to get herself geared out. "Gotta get to Ender Island and fast! Can't let those monsters destroy the forge." She hit the confirmation button and then checked back on her sarcophagus to make sure it was in tip top shape! "Beam me over, Earth-chan!"

The archeologist appeared right before the other people in the area, players popping up on her mini map, some of whom she had met before. One red name was "Mirror Knight" who had looked on at the group in front of him with a sullied glance. Wanting to be a bit braver, Panya stood up with her weapon raised, the sarcophagus firmly in her grasp. "Ah-I'll be your shield, guys! You can count of me..." She stepped forward to make the first swing against the Mirror Knight.

INFORMATION

Her answer appeared to be welcomed while Enigma thought over the response given to him and assessed the information that she had provided. Panya felt as if a lot of the stress had been removed form her shoulders. The archeologist gained a little more confidence in her posture and looked at the smiling mask of the leader of the game. "Oh, ah, thank you, Enigma! History has been an important part of my culture since I was born. Despite the dangers that Earth-chan has posed for us, I'm always happy to consider myself an explorer of the world!" Enigma had recommended her to the research division, something that she had never really considered before. Wasn't that mainly for like technology focused people or something? She'd still consider it regardless, as Panya gave a bow to Enigma. "I would be honored to serve in R&D! I've never really been employed by an organization like this before, but I'm more than happy to help anyway I can, Enigma, sir!~"

Barbara had taken the next question straight out of her mouth. It did make sense, considering the risk factors in not only delving into such deep and disturbing sectors of the world, untouched by the hands of man for likely generations at a time. The eyes peeking out from the sarcophagus at the man slowly close the lid in response while Panya adjusting the weight on her shoulder, moving it up as if it were heavy. She looked to their aspiring leader for his answer, even adding in, "I would imagine that we'll be compensated in some fashion or another. Knowledge may be worth its weight, but it can't always bring food to the table!"

enigma | babsy

Panya had heard inklings of a meeting of sorts for one of the many groups that were up and coming in this new world of theirs. She wasn't one to really think about stepping foot inside of New York alone like this. There were jungle animals everywhere, which of course did make sense about how hidden they wanted to be. Nothing like hiding in plain sight after all! So the archeologist traversed into the wild wastes of New York and began the hunt for this meeting location. A part of her grew curious about what this could entail. If her goal was to discover the secrets of this world, would this be a group that would willing align with her question for knowledge? Or would they be more of a mind to use it for their own ends? It troubled her bookwormish mind, but Panya continued on with anxiety ridden steps. It took a few attempts to locate the entrance but after which, there the woman stood alongside the other potential recruits.

Her eyes went to the woman beside her, a similarly tanned woman wielding a firearm across her shoulder. Those eyes too were so mysterious and chilling. The look of a woman who had countless lives in her line of work, whatever that could be. Maybe she was a mercenary or some type of soldier or something? Compared to her, Panya was everything that she wasn't. Her own timid eyes sometimes looked over at her before returning back to the man who the group was talking with. "N-Nice to meet you, Enigma, sir!" She was grateful that the spotlight wasn't on her to begin with, though knew that eventually it would be all eyes on her. Panya stood quietly and tried to fit in as best one could with a nine foot tall sarcophagus on one's back. Her stance did seem somewhat lacking in stern confidence, but there was a strange beauty in her more natural posture.

The woman introduced herself as Barbara and went on about her class and abilities. There was a lot to really digest for the man observing all of them, Enigma. Panya listened quietly as Bara finished, even chipping in with her own input. "W-Wow, you've got quite the class! Enhanced eyesight would be such a big help on a couple of my digs back home." Sure, she had spoken out of line, but she could help it! Barbara was just that cool! Panya offered the group an apologetic smile before falling back in line and watching to see Enigma's judgement for Barbara.

enigma | babsy

Talk about ending up between a rock and a hard place. The ever exploration loving archeologist had fallen into the thick of things when she had followed a lead that was diving into the depths of likely some hell on earth, centered specifically in a single warehouse near Neo-Tokyo. She had been full aware of the risks going in there, she wasn't stupid enough to waltz in and think that Earth-chan wasn't going to throw the easiest monsters her way and call it a day. If she did want to discover more of this strange new world and the secrets therein, Panya was going to have to step out of her comfort zone and take a huge risk, likely the biggest one of her life. She swallowed back whatever fears she had and pressed the button on the screen to accept the quest given to her. Earth-chan gave her a time and a place to meet her party at, and so the die was cast. She murmured something about not wanting to be a bother on the other people and just tried to push everything out of her mind while paroozing the library in Unison Central to kill time before she was due for the mission. Once the time came, Panya loaded up her weapon, slung it over her shoulder, and began the trek to Tokyo once more.

The cybernetic city was as busy as ever, with the neon lights lighting up the darkened skies above. It was hard to imagine living in a city of eternal night as a non-nocturnal person. Panya hadn't really been one to stay up until the wee hours of the morning outside of a college setting, but there was a sort of charm in spending the wee hours of the morning with a wonderful book and a proper cup of tea. She wasn't here to see what kind of futuristic books there could be here, though, quickly walking towards the warehouse mentioned where the demons would reside. A part of her did wonder if kurai might have been useful on a mission such as this. Him and his demonic companion would have more than likely be essential allies for a time such as this. Panya had dropped contact with him as of late, though seeing him again would have been quite the surprise! She had entered the industrial district and kept an eye out for the location of where they might have wanted her to head in, soon stumbling across a most terrifying sight.

The warehouse was coated in a type of crimson ichor. Red limbs and monstrous looking protrusions layered around the exterior of the building. Panya studied the shapes that surrounded this infested hellhole. It looked as if this was some kind of corruption of some kind, but how would it have taken such a physical form if it was all magical? Was this some type of fire magic, perhaps the ashes of the victims that fell here were mixed with the flames to produce this sort of effect? Whatever it was, it frightened her. The mousey scholar looked back behind her at the fleeting sights of Tokyo. Maybe she could go back home and hide under a couch or something? Maybe there was a nice spot of tea with her name on it, just nice and safe inside of her own little personal bubble! She gripped the edge of her sarcophagus before cursing to herself. She couldn't leave now, not while her teammates were depending on her. And so, the archeologist walked closer to the demon nest.

To her surprise, another person was already present and walking closer to his death! Panya hurried up as best she could, even producing a hurried, "W-Wait up! You're here for the mission too, right?" Maybe it stopped him, maybe not. She at least could try and get an answer out of him, or nag his decision making for a bit before they marched to their doom inside. Her eyes went over to the front door, where below in the crack between them, she could make out the shapes of damaged and destroyed equipment inside. Whatever was inside likely was big and strong. "Geez, don't go inside without us. Do you have a death wish or something?" Panya scolded him, but then sighed and looked back at the warehouse, her form trembling. "I'm Panya, but you probably already know that, I think?...A-Anyway, I'm not a fighter persay, but I'll try and keep you safe!"

Tristan Wu
Edgar

Panya couldn't help herself but to return to Paris after her little bit of exploring around, even after receiving her XMas present that took the form of this neat little Atlas around her! It made for a pretty unique little map that made it a breeze to get around most places, though for now, it was tucked neatly underneath of her arm. The archeologist wandered through the many streets of Paris in hopes of finding something worthwhile to spend her hard earned points on. It had been a while since she visited some kind of shop for something helpful, though she had to wonder about if she stood out like a tourist for scams. Unfortunately, carrying around a large sarcophagus attached her her back wouldn't help quell what people may have thought about her when taking a first glance.

"I wonder what kind of stuff this place will have."


Regardless, she continued to pass the many stalls and criers hawking their wares. There was little that really caught her eyes on top of crowd so far. Fruits, bags, weapons, the usual things one may found in a market after loading into this new world.

But a small, pink figure standing on a box in front of two people wouldn't go unnoticed by the woman. She stood from afar while she introduced herself as Jeanne-Marie, a French name. Panya stood quietly and listened to the pitch given to the two people by the tiny mogul. From the pitch given to her, it was quite the benefit of buying one of those neat little boxes of hers that she was selling. She thought abvout the pitch for a moment, crossing her arms in thought.

"Technically, a kid standing on a box talking about this kind of thing is the reddest of red flags. But if I want to explore any of the dangerous places Earth-chan's going to throw at us, I'll need to stay topped up on equipment and things. And I do have some points to spare." Panya stood in place with a measured pace before walking up to Jeanne-Marie and taking her place in between the two other as she looked up at the child.

"Regardless of these two, you've snagged my interest. After either of these two, I'll purchase some of your stock."

Jeanne-Marie
fowl tern
Soyeon

The first to arrive promptly was none other than Panya! The archeologist turned adventurer would come over the horizon with a giant book of her own, opened in full as papers sprawled out of the top. Things threatened to leap out of the many pages and pockets, although her grip on the book seemed to be enough to prevent such things from happening. Her vision had been totally engulfed by the large atlas until she lowered it just in time to catch sight of her friend. A grand smile spread across her face as the woman ran closer.

"Kurai!" she ran over with her sarcophagus attached to her back as always, basked in a golden color that was reminiscent of the museum visit she had went to a short while away. She ran up to him with the energy and elation of meeting a long time friend once more. But instead of her usual greeting, Panya scurried up and gave him a friendly hug. Her squeeze was slightly stronger than one would expect from somebody who read books all day, but she was certainly a woman of many talents. He might even smell the scent of lilac coming from her as they hugged.

She ended the hug shortly after and seemed as giddy as a child in a candy store. "It's great to see you again! How've you and Seere been? Keeping each other out of trouble?" The woman looked up to see an elder man that he had been talking about and looked over at him, offering him the same kind of wave. Though Kurai could likely tell that she shared a lot of meekness that she had back on their first meeting.

"Oh, sorry. I didn't see you there. Are you with the expedition as well?"

One smashing attack later and the elf dentist would no longer be much of a bother to them. She looked down at the hole that had been created on account of her attack and gasped audibly. The poor thing likely had his skull crushed in from the force of the attack, not counting whatever the other two's attacks had done to him.

"Sorry, but you were trying to attack us!" Panya apologized to the elf before the conversation changed onto more pressing matters.

The group now had all of these presents and nobody to turn them into. It was quite the quandry indeed, seeing as how there was only one man who could possible take them at this time of year. She reached down to pick up a half crushed present with the bow remaining only a little stomped underneath somebody's shoe and smiled. Alongside Elara, Panya plucked each one from the ground and then working on the smaller gifts along the ground. Once all of them appeared to be picked up, only envelopes were left, containing a gift most foul.

Gift cards...

The archeologist's head craned over to Elara once she asked if Santa was real. "What do you mean "if he's real?" she asked with full sincerity. "Of course he's always been real. And he'll most certainly be needing these presents to spread holiday cheer." Panya looked around to both party members with a confident expression.

"We just have to figure out how to get them to him."

kurai
Elara Salisbury