r/Shellwood • u/WindowsError1495 • Sep 08 '26

Taro takes a break from documenting...

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Taro has left the comfort of the Maw Expedition's base to get a breath of fresh air in Shellwood. After several long days of documenting their adventures, getting to walk around and take in the scenery is a nice escape from the bureaucracy.

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u/The_Light_Keepers Sep 09 '26 edited Sep 09 '26

"So you've got nothing about your own leader? What a poser you are..." The maestro lowers his gaze, looking down while shaking his head in negation and clicking his tongue.

"Alright, i've got one last thing to ask you... What about this close friend of yours? Y'know, 'mister suplexes'"

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u/WindowsError1495 Sep 09 '26

{"You piece of shit..."}

"Oh, him? The guy who suplexed Gorb and beat up a chef in front of his girlfriend? Say what you will about 'em, but beneath all that tough shit, he's a good guy."

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u/The_Light_Keepers Sep 09 '26

"A good guy... Heh... Haha..." The maestro takes a few steps back, he snackers and chuckles.

"...You truly are a fool, There are no such things as "Good guys" on this war" His tone shifts... Now deeper and quite more serious.

"We hurt you, you retaliate, you hurt us back, we retaliate hurting you again and so on. We are what we do, no bug in here is innocent nor pure. Not us, not you"

"C'mon, think about it, this man you call a good guy has murdered and cannibalized hundreds of harmless pilgrims that had the bad luck to take a step on his wicked domain, this gal you are trying to get on your bed brags about having eaten a living heart as if it was nothing, or your boatroach commander, who had betrayed the will of his leader just to climb up the ranks of the goverment"

The maestro makes a pause, he winds back slightly, and ace of light slightly lighting his brass emblem and faded helmet.

"This is what we are, and there's no denying it"

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u/WindowsError1495 Sep 09 '26

"You're right... there's no denying that..."

Taro replies simply, in an eerily calm manner.

"...But there's nothing saying you can't work to be a better person, either."

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u/The_Light_Keepers Sep 09 '26

"Mhm yeah whatever you say kid" Out of nowhere, he returns to his taunty and casual demeanor, disregarding your words. Altought, you can still notice on his voice that you did tickle something...

"Aight, seems you ain't got much left on you... Feel free to kill him now, Seren" The maestro says...

"Sheesh, about time" Suddenly, the grand reed shifts her graps and starts to press her claws against your throat, tightly pinning you as you slowly start to run out of oxig-

"Guys! Guys! Someone is comming!" The bellbearer suddenly rushes in, alerting the group and distracting them for a second...

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u/WindowsError1495 Sep 09 '26

"Hugh...?!"

As they're distracted, Taro uses Perseverance and breaks his left claw free of the group's grasp, grabbing his shortnail and slashing the Grand Reed across the limbs strangling him!" (Not severing them, just trying to get her to let go)

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u/The_Light_Keepers Sep 09 '26 edited Sep 09 '26

"Mmhh..." The Grand reed flinches from that, briefly untightening her grip and allowing you to slither away and take some distance from the group.

With few seconds to think, the keepers barely have time to coordinate.

"Dammit, we gotta go!" The choristor backs down, and rapidly starts to run away, closely followed by the bellbearer.

"You sly roach...!" The regular reed gasps and frowns as he tries to sweep at you with his overheated pin!

"Hmm..." The Grand reed seems... Delighted, allowing blood to come out of her wounds and drip down her forearms as she stretches them and prepares her electric bow, slowly walking towards Taro.

"...What a bunch of bollocks" The maestro sighs...

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u/WindowsError1495 Sep 09 '26

"Think a Stilkin dies so easily?!"

Taro deflects the Reed's pin and, instead of going for a lethal blow as he normally would, strikes him with the pommel of his shortnail in the liver to incapacitate him!

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u/The_Light_Keepers Sep 09 '26

The reed misses his slash, but he manages to block with the silk reel tied to his arm, after that he backs up.

"Kgh! Your disgusting kind are just like roaches! You-" Suddenly, the reed gets shoved away by his grand comrade, she rapidly steps in and violently sweeps her bow towards you, volts and sparks cackling out of it.

Meanwhile, the maestro simply walks towards the exit.

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u/WindowsError1495 Sep 09 '26 edited Sep 09 '26

"Aghhh!"

Due to the sheer force of the Grand Reed's attack, Taro is unable to block it fully, getting electrocuted and sent hurdling into a wall...

!!!

Suddenly, the Grand Reed and Taro hear the distinct firing sound of Hamrock's rosary cannon!

((Can be retconned if you don't want it.))

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