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Re: [First Deep, Event] Night of the Dead Living
Posted: Sat Nov 28, 2020 7:21 pm
by Chronicle
The excitement unfolding around the monolith seemed to tickle Madeline a bit, as she curled a finger within her golden locks, when she watched everyone left at the monolith spread out to different directions. Talon had seemed to gauge the new threats present to the area, and quickly deemed it vital that he make his move towards the south, where Hyoga already started to engage the Wraith of Rage chasing the undead. Meanwhile Lyra and Finn had taken to head towards the spring, to address the Wraith of Horror lingering there, and provide Galius with what little aid they could as well. Things had definitely taken an interesting turn to Madeline, and she couldn't help but wonder what it was everyone would do next.
Hyoga's spear had been enflamed with fire due to him varnishing the element, which would've undoubtedly made his weapon that much more effective... were it not used on a Wraith of Rage. Alone the spear hardly seemed to phase the soaring entity, it's pursuit almost unphased had it not taken note of the other heat source present. Flame. Rather earnestly the wraith slowed to twist around, to face the new challenger present in turn, before a perfectly timed maneuver resulted in a gleaming flourish of a blade. Talon's sweep into the fray couldn't have been any more cleaner, the blade practically sizzling as smoke trailed from the traces of aether and ichor found there.
The Wraith of Rage had been cleaved in two as a result, it's form already dissipating into plumes of smoke as the upper half reached out above, and emitted another high-pitched shriek that faded to silence in the entity's fall. The limbs and form of the creature dissolved into thin air, as the split remains of the wraith's core surged back together, coalescing into a thick red-orange blob that dropped to the ground with an obnoxious splat. Ectoplasm seemed to gush out from its impact on the ground, spreading out half a foot as something seemed to clink as it bounced in place. Within the center of that puddle that was generated, a robust sized rocky-looking stoon with a small flame emanating from its core. The undead within that area suddenly stopped in all their tracks, the burning one included, before things seemed to suddenly resume their chaotic frenzy once again.
Yet those Undead that were feasting on their own earlier seemed to calm down now, the offenders legitimately curious as to how and why they were caught up in tearing apart the poor ghoul lying on the ground. The monks? Still focused on maintaining their circle of prayer it would seem, although ambient aether began to swirl within the center of the glyph they carefully guarded. "I'll be damned!" The skeletal soldier cheered with his sword thrust upward in salute. "You took that thing down before it could even cause a real problem!" He commended to Talon in his approach just then, his head visibly turning as though he would've looked to Hyoga next. "Nice work helping him! I don't think I could've seen any-"
"HOOOOOOOOOOT!!!" The burning undead declared as he ran between the three, causing the skeletal soldier to retreat back a couple of steps as his head turned yet again. It was strange how he seemed capable of seeing without any eyes, as he was just a skeleton after all, yet even so the warrior barely seemed phase by his current condition. The burning ghoul on the other hand? He practically made a beeline after passing them, and unless somebody stopped him, he would continue that beeline right for the spring in turn.
"Well damn! Looks like poor Jimmy's gonna have an ear-splitting headache afterward." Another one of the ghouls in the area muttered aloud to one of his fellow on-lookers, the rest of the Undead there still invested in watching the present living as they lingered.
"I take it you must be wanting this?" The skeletal warrior inquired as he moved to pick up the Pyrolyth shard, mindful that his bony hands didn't get burned in turn when he held it. In picking it up he offered it to one of the two men present, his skull head then tilted to the side as he waited to see who'd accept it. "Right then, I shall carry out my duties then! For the EMPIRE!!" The skeletal warrior declared in turn, offering them a salute fairly reminiscent of the Imperium's own gesture. In turn, he moved to chase after the burning ghoul, named Jimmy, hopeful to address the other lingering issue near the monolith.
At the spring; Lyra, Finn, and Galius found that they were not only challenged, but also tested by the Wraith of Horror looming overhead. Though the entity did lash out a couple of times when it hovered near the Ork, the arrival of Lyra and her use of Mesmer seemed to intrigue the Wraith. Looming overhead in turn it's hood shifted so that ominous snow-white eyes unveiled themselves, as they bore down on the scholar from within the black of the hood it wore. That was when... "It's hot! It's HOT! It's HOT-HOT! It's HAWT!" Despite this being the only words Jimmy could scream aloud, the flames spewing from it's cranium had practically engulfed his entire head. By now Jimmy had an extremely charred noggin, the decrepit flesh practically melting away to reveal his skull as he reached the spring.
"Jimmy!!" One of the ghoul's frozen in place called out to him, clearly surprised by the fact he came over with a new burning accessory. The Wraith of Horror, however, gave a shrill of displeasure as it elevated further away, clearly alarmed by the hot-head that had joined the others present. In turn the skeletal warrior from earlier seemed eager to meet up with them, with his rusty sword pointed up towards the wraith in turn, while Jimmy himself continually ran in clockwise circles around the spring.
"Lo! Behold! We've got you now ghastly scum!" He said this aloud almost with a tone of confidence, but gradually did it seem to waver as the Wraith in turn hissed. With a wail and pivot to it's left the Wraith of Horror lashed around, sweeping through the air to blast everyone on the ground with a wind of cold. Ice pelted everyone and a series of snaps filled the air, as the many remains of the skeletal warrior were then thrown asunder, with it's skull helm sliding across the ice until it bumped at Galius' feet.
"Gurlogigurlgiglgugle!" The drowned ghoul muttered from within the ice, as his face still seemed to poke out of the surface. If picked up at all then whoever had taken the skull of the fallen soldier, would find that within the center of his noggin was a dragonshard. It appeared rather small but looked to be quite dense, with the exterior layered with rocks and dirt. While everyone was busy handling the Wraith of Horror, however, things along the Stone Grove weren't looking to bright for poor Rabu. He did what he thought would help the deaf ghoul in turn, pulling out one of the worms as it squirmed vehemently between his fingers.
"Oooo ho ho! That tickles sunny boy!!" The deaf Undead started as he reeled back, laughing aloud briefly as he looked up towards the air in turn. As the area darkened even more the Undead gnawing on the stone seemed to let up, her jaw in an angle that hung far too low for a living body's standards. Fear seemed to wrack her face then as the mist swirled about and stirred, a ghastly dark figure swooped in to grab at her, generating a few terrified hisses as the Undead lady was thrown aside, much like a ragdoll dropped by a child with no further interest.
"Hahie!!!" The jawless ghoul cried out with his lone arm reaching out, before the air stirred with activity around him once again. Another tattered black cloak spurred from within the mist, knocking the highly animated undead off his rock, and causing some severe snapping sounds when his corpse smashed into the ground. Yet... there was still a groan from the jawless ghoul, albeit he certainly seemed to have the wind knocked out of him... and then some. The entity haunting the Stone Groves did not let up, however, as Rabu soon felt the air around him nudge and swirl from all over in turn.
"Eh? Who turned up the air in here?!" The older ghoul murmured aloud in turn, before a set of black hands jutted out from within the mist, and yanked the codger into its veil as something emitted a wily cackle in turn. Now the area around Rabu grew almost completely dark, the shadows settling upon the Stones themselves, as the runes began to lose their brilliance in turn. Rabu could hear hissing then, rattling too which was unusual. Surely by then, the shadows surrounding him began to move, and tendrils of black began to slither off the ground to him... almost like a basket of snakes had been sent loose upon the Rathari.
"Speech"
| ! | Message from: Chronicle |
Update!
-The Wraith of Rage has been dispatched, leaving behind a Greater Pyrolith shard!
-The Burning Ghoul has moved locations
-The Skeletal Imperial has been dispatched, leaving behind a Lesser Terrasyte shard!
-A Wraith of Despair has appeared within the Stone Grove!! |
Re: [First Deep, Event] Night of the Dead Living
Posted: Sun Nov 29, 2020 11:46 pm
by Rabu
One by one the undead were attacked by a a haunting presence that remained concealed in shadow and fog. Glimpses of the creature could be seen but only in ominous silhouettes that darted around the area, unfettered by the rules of gravity. Rabu stood petrified, their arms shaking in fear as the horrors went on around them and everything became dark and hidden. Before Rabu knew it, there seemed to be no means of escape and the Rathari couldn’t see the others through the fog. Though as flight became less of an option, The beast in Rabu began to take over and fight became his only choice.
Their elvish skin grew darker as fur began to cover it. Their ears grew larger and shifted to the top of their head. Their nails extended into sharp claws and Their spine sprang into a long slender tail. As a threatened feline, the new found hair stood on end, their tail stood erect and their ears folded down.
With their clawed hands, Rabu picked up their Ocarina and began to play the sacred song of wind. A song Rabu’s clan made long ago to honour the wind, it was a cheerful sounding song with many high notes to appeal to the winds playfulness. As Rabu played, their ether was being draw out from their body to commune with the wind. The wind took the offering and encircled Rabu with a small cyclone to hopefully push away the fog, the slithering snakes and potentially the abomination if if was about to strike. Rabu’s offering was weak and the cyclone dissipated soon after its first big gust, having fulfilled its end of the bargain. Rabu could feel the lack of energy now, but the adrenaline was still keeping them alert and focused. If the creature were to reveal itself, the Rathari would be ready to fight. Rabu’s fighting skills were amateur at best but it was never wise to trifle with a cornered cat.
Re: [First Deep, Event] Night of the Dead Living
Posted: Mon Nov 30, 2020 1:11 am
by Chronicle
As the shade haunting the Stone Grove closed in on Rabu with it shadows, the kind-hearted feline embraced his inner warrior, demonstrating what would become a spectacular phenomenon none would expect. The shadowy Wraith that lingered within the mist aptly swirled about, encircling the Rathari as he proceeded to transition into his Lycan form. And then, with a song of the winds itself, and a heart of true courage; the stones within the grove responded to his call.
As he played the winds would swirl about around him, generating only a brief gust in a simple instance, as it proved a favorable ward in deterring the shade that loomed nearly too close. The fog around Rabu swirled and spread outward, carrying out with the echoing breeze that filled the cavern. Wind magic seemed at work now, as the runes within the Stones emitted a continuous glimmer, and the haze itself cleared to reveal what threatened him from above. With tattered robes of black and slender ethereal arms, the Wraith of Despair lingered high above the stones where shadows still kept it safe. Yet the light...
Rabu's tune was not just well played but also well chosen, for the energy that resonated within the tune alone had activated the stones. Thus with a brightness that glistened from the surface of the magical rocks, aether pulsed outward as the energy purged the lingering mist surrounding the monolith. From Rabu's own standpoint he could literally begin to see the ancient pillar beyond the Monolith, exposing the Wraith of Horror as well for those located at the spring. Yet the resonance did not lessen, and for Rabu to be so near the stones, his entire body would feel the vibration throughout his entire structure.
"NOOOOOOO!" Echoed the screams of a terrified woman that sounded somewhere within. Or perhaps nearby? For Rabu, the location felt oddly exact, as though it took place right where he stood no less. Yet what followed that terrifying scream, was the menacing low shrill of something arcanely demonic in turn. The stones began to lose their brightness then, as the shadows started to wrench tendrils down towards the ground, towards Rabu... Yet still none touched him quite yet, as the residual glow of the rocks marginally kept the shadows at bay. The Wraith of Despair cried out furiously in turn, thirsting to assail it's center of aggression when it could find that solid opportunity.
To the south where Talon and Hyoga were, the monks would actually stir as their eyes opened, revealing empty sockets as they looked to the earthly sky above. Their circle flashed as aether surged from within its center, generating a brightly glowing orb that floated above the ground at the waist level of the Avialae warriors present. The undead monks would then bow their heads in unison, their hollowed eyes shut once again as they continued to channel more aether in through their backs. For both of the Avialae present, the orb itself beheld a pure white glow, with almost a subtle sense of familiarity emanated from its core.
As a result the monolith itself began to glow a darkly violet hue, as the very area surrounding the Keystones became charged with intense energy. Any who would step up to approach the Monolith or a Keystone, would find that not only did their float with intense static, but that if they attempted to touch a keystone; they would then feel the shock of energy course through their arm.
Something menacing was afoot...
| ! | Message from: Chronicle |
Well done Rabu! You've discovered a key clue to this puzzle piece, in light of your wonderful ocarina playing (no pun intended) you've managed to activate the Stone Grove. As a result, the bonus tier award is now unlocked. Good luck!  |
Re: [First Deep, Event] Night of the Dead Living
Posted: Mon Nov 30, 2020 12:01 pm
by Finn
Even if Talon wasn't a prince, Finn would have followed his order. Vial in hand, he followed suit, carefully dribbling the magical concoction over his newly sharpened blade. He was about to offer more of it to their Shinsei, but he was already working some other magic upon his blade, a ward, he later said. Well, Finn already trusted Lyra's ability and Talon Novalys was already a veteran of the Warrens. He slipped the empty vial in a pocket and spread the ichor evenly. His sword didn't feel different in his hand, but then, he wasn't much of a mage to know the difference. The leftover on his finger went across his knuckles in a stripe. He needed his grip sure, and perhaps, if all else failed, he could punch a ghoul in the face and the magic would make his fist something to fear.
If everyone else was using all their skills, he supposed he ought to risk his own, carefully opening his senses to the symphonies around him. There was a cacophony, almost too much to process at once—rage, fear, horror, determination, and all. It took some effort to focus under these circumstances. Talon's feelings suddenly narrowed into cool focus, and it felt like the control came from without. Lyra seemed to feel the same rising fear as he himself felt, though she began to burn from within, sublimating the ice in her heart. It heartened him too.
Talon launched himself with the expected heroism and power, destroying the source of rage with a single, magic-augmented sweep of his weapon. Well, he was going to have to write a few stanzas about that maneuver alone...
"I'm glad to see you as well," he said to Lyra through gritted teeth. He was quite aware that their different words were more than semantics, but he didn't mind that the woman was cold. She was competent, powerful, and he believed that she would protect him if only to keep their compact alive for her own benefit. There was comfort in that, even if he didn't expect her to leap between him and danger as he expected the heir of Novalys would.
His jaw was going to ache with the tension, but for now, his veins were afire with whatever fueled a man's instinct to survive. He didn't leap into the fray, but he held his blade out across his body in a simple guard stance, walking with Lyra and keeping his blade between them and the nearest horrors. He didn't know how well she could work her magic within a melee, but he figured if he could keep things at bay, she could more effectively take things out from behind him. His knuckles were white and he had to remind himself not to hold the hilt too tightly or risk being disarmed.
He felt the ork's flicker of irritation at Lyra's choice of words, but Galius did as she bade him and now there were two of them with weapons that would be effective against these things. He felt his fear diminish, not sure if it was their new ally or... but before he could start making any sort of connections, a hooded creature bore down on them. He heard its interest through his Rune, though it seemed to be directed at Lyra.
His sword rose from a middle guard to a high guard and he remained between Lyra and the wraith.
"We have company," he informed his companions, his voice calm and steady despite the screaming echoing through the Warrens.
Re: [First Deep, Event] Night of the Dead Living
Posted: Sun Dec 06, 2020 7:20 pm
by Talon
Talon landed on the ground as the essence of the Wraith of Rage dissipated. The plink of a gemstone dropping to the ground drew his attention but before he could pick it up, one of the ghoul’s grasped it. Talon eyed the deathly soldier with a fair bit of caution before he reached out to take hold of what he recognized to be a pyrolyth dragonshard. It was hard to focus with the cacophony of noise going on all around him. The flailing ghoul that had its head on fire. The rising chill of fear that was starting to creep into his spine. He recognized it for what it was, the dread aura of fear that suffused an area where yet another wraith made itself known. He was about to thank the ghoulish soldier when he saw Rabu in peril. Talon stuffed the dragonshard into one of the pouches on his belt. He readied his blade, prepared to strike out at yet another ghoul when he bore witness to the most incredible thing.
The air stirred and with it a cyclone of winds that drew in the mists perpetuated by the wraiths. The cavern was filled with an echoing music followed by a the shriek of a woman screaming in defiance. Talon’s head turned in the direction of that scream. For a moment, Talon thought he recognized it. The following growl made his blood run cold as he thought for just one moment, for one terrible moment, that She had made her way to where they were. He was pulled from that fear when the glowing orb presented itself. As he stared at it, Talon felt a mixture of confusion and familiarity. He gripped his sword tightly before glancing over the gathered party once more. There was something more at work going on but he could not see it. Talon was not a riddle-finder. He was a warrior, a blacksmith, and a statesman but his skills lay more in facing what was directly ahead of him. So he opted to provide support the best way he could.
He opened up his senses and focused on the aether of the orb that these undead monks seemed to be concentrating on. What was it? He stepped up closer to it so that he could observe it more closely. The circle that the monks formed seemed to be some sort of barrier that had deflected the flames of the Wraith of Rage and allowed them to stay shielded from whatever it was that was going on around them. Whatever they were doing was obviously important, but why? He sifted through the layers of the auras in front of him, focusing in on the orb. It felt like he could almost grasp what was in front of him. It felt like something he had experienced before but he could not place it.
“Hyoga, please. Lend your strength to the others. There is something going on here. Something...I feel like I can almost place it.” He reached into his pouch and called out the feline Rathari.
“Master Rabu!” Using his kinetics, Talon took hold of the pyrolyth. He tossed the gemstone toward the Rathari and caught it with his kinetic grasp, guiding the stone the rest of the way to the Rathari.
“It is a greater pyrolyth! Give it to Lady Lyra!” If there was anyone who would be able to figure out how to put it to use, it would be Lyra. With that, Talon stepped up to focus on the orb that the monks were concentrating on. He observed them for a moment then decided it was worth the risk. Reaching inside of himself, Talon extended his senses to the orb. The monks were channeling their power into it. Perhaps if Talon added his own, he could not only get a grasp on what they were doing but he could add to it. He opened up the flow of his aether so that he could touch upon the currents of the orb.
“Dragon King, guide my way.” He whispered a prayer to the Dragon King. Perhaps Eikaen would lend his strength. Perhaps he was just being foolish.
Re: [First Deep, Event] Night of the Dead Living
Posted: Wed Dec 09, 2020 3:12 pm
by Lyra
Much was happening, perhaps too much. The Wraith behaved erratically, responding to undead with its head ablaze with revulsion. Lyra smiled to herself, her eyes amused as Finn put himself between her and the oncoming danger. She felt... She could not quite place it. Something close to a fondness for the act, though Lyra doubted she was capable of such feelings any longer. It was perhaps futile, but the thought at times was what truly mattered. Well, in any case, she would do what she could to see him live through this day. There were still other tasks she wished of him after all.
As the ice began to rain from the Wraith Lyra took several steps back, half dancing until she stood completely behind the Ork, using his body to shield herself until the ice stopped falling. Curiously Lyra noticed the skull as it slid into Galius' feet, and she would pick it up if Galius did not do so himself and place it in her satchel for later inspection.
"An aversion to fire." she stated, stepping back into a position between Finn and Galius, but still a few steps behind, "Perhaps we can utilize that."
The wraith seemed fixated on her for some reason, so confident despite how low it truly was. She felt a spike of annoyance once more, but she kept herself focused on the task at hand. The undead with the burning head was still running, and with a breath, Lyra released a thin line of smoke. It moved through the air, washing over the undead's head where some of it managed to slip into his mouth before it was burned away by the fire. With a thought, Lyra reached out with her essence much as she did with Artur, but she did not seek to control this one. Instead, she forced it's limb's to still, the undead freezing in place behind the Wraith.
"Now then..." Lyra said, focusing on the Wraith that hovered before them, just a bit above their normal line of sight, "Be'afel, Ork. Listen you well. I shall force the creature to lower itself to within the reach of your blade. When that moment comes strike and ends this."
She waited for just a moment for their acknowledgment before acting. Artur slithered from around her shoulders, spilling around Lyra's forearm with his head over her palm. As she stared at the wraith Lyra sneered.
Allow me to show you how it is done, small one.
She held the melodies of Galius and Finn idly, turning the rest of her attention on the wraith itself. She heard its symphony, a twisted thing that spoke of terror and fear. It lavished in its ability to instill fear in others, craved it, desired it. It was sentient, but not quite like the other mortal races. It was... simplistic, almost instinctual in its actions and thoughts. That is what gave it so much power, focused as it was in instilling terror in others. This also made them vulnerable to similar machinations themselves.
Lyra began with a single note, throbbing with irregular rhythms and off-tune notes, piercing the Wraith's Symphony with dissonance that made it pause in the air, and look about with its hooded head as if unsure where it was. Without pause Lyra prepared another set of melodies, waving them into the Wraith's own while dampening and nearly completely suppressing the urges to go elsewhere or focus on someone else. She drew its attention to her, focused it on her, called it through the whispers that invaded the mind. As its head swiveled to her once more her smile widened. She raised Artur up, his head lifting as she ordered another gout of fire just over the wraith.
She heard it then, that ring of fear it tried to pretend it did not possess. Lyra grabbed that note, enhanced it, suppressed everything else save for the need to come toward her.
"To me." Lyra said as the Wraith of Horror screeched, "I am the source of your fear, I am the one you desire. Come."
When the Wraith was quickly lowering to come toward Lyra she had Artur stop the fire, moving backward with the quick steps of a dancer, still calling to the creature. The wrath came almost to where she had started between Finn and Galius Lyra struck. Her aether sang in her veins as she used the full extent of her potential, wrapping magical fingers around the Wraith's very symphony and jerking it, derailing it entirely as it stuttered. She then laced a series of new melodies of her own devising, twining them around the individual parts of the Wraith's symphony and slowing it's motions as she made it difficult for it to remember what it had been doing, or what it should be doing now.
That was when the lights began, and Lyra found herself distracted. Her concentration faltered slightly, but as she looked back at the wraith she refocused.
"Quickly, put an end to this one. Something has happened."
Re: [First Deep, Event] Night of the Dead Living
Posted: Mon Dec 14, 2020 10:14 pm
by Hikami
Ash 65th, 120th Year A.o.S
Company: Too many people| Theme: | Thoughts: Time to move on| Mood: Attentive/Intrigued
㊋ He was ready to engage the wraith, his spear twirling in his hands as the wraith came at him. But he could only watch as it was cleaved in two by Talon. A part of him was impressed, but the other part of him was slightly upset he could not face it himself. Descending back down he waved to Talon, being met by the aggressive skeletal guard from earlier.
He commended them both for their efforts against the wraith, offering them a stone that came from within the entity itself. It marveled with a fiery warmth, something Hyoga noticed from his rune of elementalism. It almost called to him in a way, beckoning him to take it. Though Talon suggested he aid the others, as it seemed they too were facing an otherworldly entity themselves.
Pulling himself from the elemental stone, Hyoga took flight with a leap, heading in the direction of where the wailing was coming from. He varnished his spear again now knowing that flames seemed to be what gained their attention. Coming in view of the group, Hyoga began to spin as if mimicking a spinning top of sorts, his spear fixed forward and aimed to skewer the wraith he was mas making a b-line for.
He was determined to take this one out, as closing the distance between him and the wraith Hyoga came from out of the spinning motion, swing his spear diagnoally in the first pass, then turning to bisect it in his next. A smirk painted his face as he surely hit the core, watching the ethereal creature begin to fade and dissipate into dust. ㊋
"Common Speech"
"Synskrit Speech"
"Self-Thoughts"
Re: [First Deep, Event] Night of the Dead Living
Posted: Tue Dec 22, 2020 9:18 am
by Galius
Ash 65th, 120th Year A.o.S.
She insisted on referring to him by his race. Not that he wasn't proud of being an Orkhan. But there was something belittling about being referred to by your race instead of your given name. Regardless as she gave the instructions of her plan, Galius readied himself. He could argue the decency about the point later. For now they had bigger problems at hand. Now with Lyra standing behind him, Galius raised his sword to shield is face as the ice shattered around him. The skull of the undead sliding to his feet caught his eye as he looked down at it. But his attention was required elsewhere.
And as the sound of Lyra's feet started to move behind him. The problem in question lowering itself towards them. Galius' feet slid apart. Bending at his knees as he moved into a more favorable stance to strike with the full weight of the wicked blade. The rings singing as he moved the sword to his side. The blade aided by lichor that Lyra had given him. Galius took a deep breath as the wraith moved into range. Pushing the breath from his chest with a guttural growl as he sliced down with an over head arch against the wraith. Before turning his blade back up to cut through the wraith again. The Ork would continue to swing and slash against the wraith until it was dead.
Once the problem was dealt with. Galius would fish a vial from his pocket and use his blade to scoop some of the essence that was left behind inside. Before he corked it and turned his attention back towards the two beside him. First glancing at Finn and giving him a nod. Before turning his attention to Lyra. His original suspicion was correct in a sense. This woman possesses gifts of magic and knowledge that he did not. Not that he knew all the things about everything. But there was a ting of jealousy at the flawless nature of her technique. The skull that once rested at his feet now gone. "I appreciate the assistance from both of you. But it seems that we have other things to deal with. Shall we?" He said while throwing out his arm in an after you fashion.
Re: [First Deep, Event] Night of the Dead Living
Posted: Mon Dec 28, 2020 6:31 pm
by Chronicle
As the battle waged on between those gathered, things progressed at an alarming rate almost immediately after Rabu's stunt. The Wraith of Despair still assailed him with shadows, tethers of darkness that drew no closer than several inches above the Rathari. With the glowing of the Stone Grove to protect him, however, those shadows could never hope to reach the feline bard in time. Meanwhile Finn had prepared to aid Lyra by doing as he'd been told, coating his weapon with the ichor as well as his knuckles, generating a soft misty glow from both steel and skin where the stuff had been applied. He watched and paid close attention to the Symphonies of those around him, however, an echoing resonance seemed to be emanating from the Stone Grove itself as he listened.
There was much chaos and confusion, merged with a sense of comradery against despair, but the underlying tones spelled something sinister and angry looming... beneath? Something heavy lingered and it felt as though it clung to the monolith, as the very ground seemed to hum with a menacing presence the longer he listened. Lyra on the other hand worked diligently to not just suppress, but subdue the Wraith of Horror entirely, working alongside Galius and Finn just before the entity pelted them with it's ice barrage. She moved to hide behind the Ork, while Finn caught a full blast of the icy magic thrown at them. Galius' attempt at blocking the ice partially worked in his favor, keeping the shards from pelting his face, while any other areas of his body exposed felt the rush of cold. Both he and Finn would've felt it then, the moment ice gushed past them, slivers of it nicked and lightly tore at their bodies. Any armor on them would've protected the skin sure enough, but beyond that anything exposed had been caught in the full force of the attack.
Lyra's next efforts were done tactfully when she reacted afterward, for her sudden ire against the Horror floating above her did something. The entity's initial response had been that of humor, that is until the follow-up was that of an orchestrated Symphony, one that Lyra first used to dampen the spirit of the Horror floating above, enough to where she practically challenged the wraith head on. Bemusement filled the very air between them then, as the Horror's hood lowered with palpable uncertainty, it was unaccustomed to this sort of treatment after all. The wraith itself is what evoked fear and terror into its subjects, empowering the entity as all their horrors followed by a dark and cold sleep. Never before had one such as Lyra stood against them, and dare to inflict that same aspect of dread into it.
The addition of Artur spouting flames was also an effective approach, for it generated further animosity as the Horror's figure started to slow. The weight of Lyra's magic had begun to heavily affect it then, and finally with a shriek as chilling as the frost itself, it lowered itself to loom closer before finally faltering down low for Galius to move in. With their combined efforts the Wraith of Horror raised it's arms up, now on the receiving end of that very terror it thrived upon. With a fierce blow from above that followed-up with another upward strike, Galius tore into the entity as many times as he could with his sword, the ethereal form of the wraith spouting mists of white as both it and Galius' blade glimmered. The wraith gave out one last shriek of defiance, unsatisfied with the turnout of it's demise, before the very form of the Horror began to dissipate into the air. Mist surged from within its center as though the core of the entity burst, briefly clouding the area around Galius where he stood, as something seemed to plink across the ice between his boots once more.
Another dragonshard.
This one appeared to be a rather large and vibrant blue, it's body transparent while it looked as though liquid gently moved within. With the Wraith of Horror then dispatched, and two Greater dragonshards now present, it was now Hyoga's turn to finally shine in this moment. Flying towards the final Wraith looming over the Stone Grove, he soared high above with his spear in hand, flames varnished to it as the entity hovered before him in his sight. With the fire present to light his way, and the glowing of the Stone Grove beneath to outline the Wraith, he surged forth through the air doing a similar stunt that Talon had did before. In soaring right past he clipped Dread head-on with the end of his spear, turning so that when his next strike went, he made a clean-cut straight from the below. The attack cleaved right through the Wraith of Dread's form, sending it reeling ever further back towards the stalactites above, as the shadows surrounding it lessened dramatically in it's reeling.
Shrieks echoed all throughout the cavern then from the Wraith of Dread, its arm's desperately clinging to the dissipating form as shadows faded away entirely. The tattered ghostly black robes it wore, along with its form, shriveled before bursting into one last cloud of black, veiling Hyoga's view of the area entirely if he lingered in place. From where it was slain something large and rocky fell to the ground, bouncing off a couple of the glowing stones before rolling its way to Rabu in turn. The Undead within the Stone Grove seemed to stir once more then, as did those that were still encased in ice, as those that could turned to watch the living that had gathered in the area. All of them. Every undead seemed focused on a person as of now, as though something governed the will of the quiet mobs, as more and more Undead started to gather from within the rest of the Warrens.
Meanwhile...
Talon's investigation of the monks and their charge would prove more than just fruitful, for the revelation that awaited him when he investigated was sure to instill awe. The sense of familiarity he experienced became all the more explained, when the power of Semblence allowed him to glimpse the orb of light more thoroughly. He detected not just a living entity, but that of the scholar herself, as though she were no longer a living entity entirely... But rather a ghost now. A ghost encased by the circle, as the monk's continued to channel their aether into it... into her. So too did he decide to aid in their endeavor, to empower both them and Madeline with his aether...
Talon! It wasn't a word spoken but a word felt, as though Madeline reached through to him, calling out to him from deep within someplace else entirely. Talon! Please! There was no time, no way she could warn him. Because of the efforts of the others, the air throughout the entire area grew heavy. Pressure filled the spaces surrounding the monolith, the stones surrounding Rabu lost their glimmer entirely, as the Greater Pyrolith shard reached him moments afterward. From within the mouth of the monolith energy stirred, bolts of lightning started to surge and dance at the center, as voilet lines of light began to trace their way from the base of the structure. Each keystone began to glower with this same light, the runes resonating as that same menacingly low shrill filled the area.
Something was coming.
Lightning danced frantically now, the bolts converging into a single point, before another black shroud surged from their point of origin. From the depths of shadow came one final entity, a new wraith that nobody within Kalzasi had ever reported on before. It's shroud appeared as black as obsidian, with chains dark the night itself dangling from it's ethereal form. Smoke blacker than Lyra's own danced off the body of this wraith, as three black lanterns with brilliant blue flames hovered at the back of this wraith. Another intense shrill pierced the air as the wraith threw it's arms up, spreading it's influence throughout the area as the monolith itself became cloaked in dancing shadows, the black smoke radiating from each keystone as a static charge surged from the center of the monolith.
All who were present would feel it then, the menacing terror that had manifested, the insatiable hunger to induce pain and eternal torment. That creature, Madaline's voice carried through into Talon, enough to where it felt he and his Bondmates conversed with another, it's a wraith just like the others. This one, however... favors pain and suffering. Get ready! As she warned this black clouds started to form in the air above the monolith, the grumbling sound of thunder prevalent as the wraith ascended from the Monolith. Now would come the hard part for those that had gathered, for the monolith now became a battleground between the Wraith of Torment; and those who volunteered to aid at Madeline.
"Speech"
| ! | Message from: Chronicle |
Congratulations everyone, the bonus round commences now!
The Wraith of Horror has been dispatched by Lyra, Finn, and Galius: This has caused a Greater Aqualyth shard to appear
The Wraith of Despair has been dispatched by Rabu and Hyoga: This has caused a Greater Terrasyte shard to appear.
Talon's investigation of the orb has revealed that it is actually Madeline!!
And best of all: the final boss has appeared for the showdown! The Wraith of Torment comes unleashing both fear and lightning unto it's victims, be ready to strategize and fight! |
Re: [First Deep, Event] Night of the Dead Living
Posted: Fri Jan 01, 2021 2:58 pm
by Finn
Later, perhaps, Finn would feel like little more than a useful distraction to allow those more suited for this life to do what they did. In the moment, however, he felt that strange buffer of calm, though he could still Hear quite a bit of chaos whorling about them. Horror and fear, but also courage and determination. Perhaps that was why, even after the rain of ice staggered him, his guard coming up to shield his face from the worst of it, he recovered as quickly as he could, sidling around to manage a swing or two from behind the wraith as Galius proved the more pressing threat.
Of course, Lyra was quite the threat as well. Some of her magic was quite showy, but the Song inspiring him not to flee had to be her as well. He couldn't be certain. Too much was going on, but there was that part of him that was perfectly still, detached and calculating, a part of himself he hadn't known before. All this, too, would be something to ponder at greater length later, when there was a modicum of safety.
And then it was down. He felt a rush of elation and shouted something akin to a battle cry, though he couldn't have said from whence it came. Used to snatching coins before they disappeared, he almost dove for the gleaming water crystal, but he had seen Galius' blade in action and didn't want to chance it. He pointed, though, like a spotting hound. "Dragonshard."
His face and arms were numb, at least limned in a strange burning that promised pain to come, but for the nonce, he was still up and moving.
Even with the armor on his mind, he felt something terrible coming. Though he could scarcely feel his hands for their white-knuckled grip and the ice that rimed them, he brought his sword up again in a practiced guard, back to Galius and Lyra, eyes searching for the next undead thing that desired their end.
"Something's coming," he said, sharp as his blade.