858 Spidah

The group are filed through the hallways of Kaer Morhen until they reach a strange smelling hallway leading to a heavy gold door...

The Prospect opens it with some effort and they step inside, getting punched in the face by the various strong fumes currently in the room...

They spot a young beautiful woman with white hair and wearing a white dress with silver ornaments. She's relatively short compared to the group, Barnock, and Tyrael both towering over her, though, she seemed to have eight spiderlike legs protruding from her back, all assisting in whatever Alchemical process she was currently involved in...

When she suddenly looks up and sees everyone she gives a surprised yelp before ducking behind the table, "Ah, who're you!?" she quickly asks, clearly distressed by something.

"We're here to receive potions under our Lords orders." the Prospect says, visibly causing the woman to relax.

She pokes her head above the table and begins to examine them all, "So you visited the Blacksmiths first?" she asks, her silvery eyes seeming to glow unnaturally in the dim room.

Barnock nods, "Indeed... Is there something wrong miss-?"

The woman shakes her head, "Ah-er, no!... Just. Just give me a minute." she says, continuing to hide behind the tables in the room and entering a storage cupboard to get out of eyesight.

Mathias glances at the group, "Are all Alchemists so... Eccentric?" he wonders aloud.

Barnock shrugs, "You need to be abnormal to be extraordinary I suppose?"

"So, what did you need?" the woman asks as she leaves the storage cupboard... Only this time, her lower body had transformed into some kind of crab? Eight white scaled legs clack against the hard stone floor.

...

Mathias "My apologies miss... But, I don't seem to recall you being like... This?" he gestures at her.

The woman crosses her arms and pouts, "You know it's rude to point at a lady, and I don't see why I should inform you what form I wish to take or not."

Mathias scratches the back of his head, "Uh, yes. Forgive me..."

The Prospect pats him on the shoulder, "Don't worry about it, Miss Quelina is simply shy about her other form-" a glass vial hits him directly in the face and shatters against his mask.

Quelina "Could you not spout such things in-front of me! I am not shy, I simply wish for only certain people to see that form..."

Barnock "Then, why were you like that when we entered?" he questions.

Quelina "I'd spent more than 9 months transformed and found that the extra limbs would more versatile than I'd originally thought... Let us move on as I'm tired of this topic."

Tyrael "I apologise for my companion's behaviour, it's not every day we see someone as beautiful as you." he says, trying to gain back the favour lost due to the others insults.

However, his flattery doesn't even seem to move her, she shrugs and retains a neutral expression, "You are here for potions are you not? Dispense with the flattery and tell me what you specifically want." she says, turning and walking towards a shelf filled to the brim with a variety of potions.

Quelina proceeds to show them all the potions she has in stock that may be useful to them, she'd suggested many physical and magical enhancement potions after being told their mission. She'd also recommended a few calming draughts, anti-poisons, and flame-freeze potions due to her own experiences with Demons.

Though they might not be exactly the same, the Demons Tyrael and the rest of the group described seemed to match the ones her mother had inadvertently created.

After an hour the group finally left Kaer Morhen with a few bags filled with various potions, Quelina had lightened up after their initial disagreements and was very helpful in telling them exactly what potion did, the doses they should take, and potential side-effects...

Mathias was a bit wary of the Flame-Freeze potion as if you drank even a drop more than prescribed your blood would freeze in your veins and you'd die instantly... Fortunately, Quelina had seen it fit to bottle the exact dosage for each individual member of the group, otherwise none would dare even going near one.

Finally, it was time for them to meet up with their two young companions and leave to face Diablo... The Prospect lead them to the outskirts of town where a small crowd was gathered, King Reima was standing in between Queen Cirilla and another woman who had long black hair, red eyes and strict features.

Solaire, Yennefer and a scarred white haired man who looked suspiciously similar to the statue they'd seen in Rivia stood nearby, watching and appraising the group as if they were about to ask for their daughter's hand in marriage...

Selina was holding Ciri's hand as the group arrived, she was dressed as she was before, no extra armour, no visible magical artifacts, nothing. Mathias assumed that King Reima would give them some protective equipment instead of just sending them out in their regular clothes, he had no right to question it though as he wasn't their father.

Quennie was holding the hand of the black-haired woman who was stood beside Reima, the young girl looking nervously at everyone.

The Prospect that was guiding the group bows at everyone, "We've arrived, fully equipped and ready for duty my lord."

Reima nods and waves them off, the Prospect walking towards the others present and taking a position in their formation. "I'm sure the equipment you've been given will be adequate for the task, are you all ready?"

Tyrael "I believe we are, I thank you for the assistance you have given us, and the trust you place on our shoulders in protecting your children."

Reima smirks, "Oh, it's not you protecting them, it's them protecting you." he says, and the group isn't sure whether he's joking or not.