dysproslogs | annivurtstag, princess lazuli! (20th-21st)

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annivurtstag, princess lazuli! (20th-21st)

The strange energy felt at midnight last night was from from your imagination. It takes a while for them to make their way out, but the city is filled with low ranked creatures, sending many to hide in their homes. But stranger than that, the city is also filled with stranger residents. They're ghostly apparitions, all of people that seem to be speaking a language that's difficult to understand, and they seem panicked. They're focused around the Castle, but fan outwards as time goes on.

On the second day, stronger monsters will start to come out of the castle too, providing some added difficulty and likely a need to team up.

When tagging in, please note whether it's on the 20th or the 21st!

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[Lithuania isn't really sure why he sticks around. There's something oddly compelling about the strange phantoms running about. He can't quite understand them, but--almost, it seems, and they seem quite panicked. He approaches the castle cautiously--and is distracted by two apparitions suddenly speaking words he can understand. He's struck, mesmerized, until the ghostly woman and her son are run through with a sword.]

A-ah... [It's not as if he hasn't seen things like that, but it's never a pleasant situation.

The laughing sends a bit of a chill down his spine. He finds himself looking at the castle all the chaos seems to be centered around.]

Lithuania!

[Latvia comes running towards him, obviously distressed. Clutched in his hands is a basic iron sword that he clearly doesn't know how to use but with the creatures running around you can't be too careful.

It would have been sensible to stay at the guild but in times of uncertainty he always felt safer in familiar company]

I've been looking for you, have you seen anyone else?

[Despair, betrayal, pain, sadness. All of these feelings are in the air, and Ninian shivers upon sensing them... but it's a little less about being scared, and more about her struggling to not let their pain fully become hers. If she can't keep her own thoughts aside, even if just a little, she will not be able to help.

Breathing in, Ninian forces herself to keep on walking. And then, she sees them and stops. An old man and two middle-aged women laying on the ground, all of them severely injured and splattered in blood, though there are no signs of any other threat. She can't understand the words they say either, but the rest of their surroundings and the tone of their voices tell her what could have happened.

Manslaughter. War. Beasts. Sadness. Maybe even betrayal. All kinds of pain. Neverending pain. They died in total despair, and their ghostly presence is a proof of how they can't rest in peace even after Elimine-and-Célerartig-know how long. Ninian folds her hands together, struggling to not cry; it's specially hard now that she can understand what one of the dying women says.

"Master, our Master... Our King... We have served you well... Why have you forsaken us? What did we do to deserve this?"]

... I'm so sorry for everything... I hope we can find a way for you to have peace...

[She again forces herself to walk past them, looking around for either other visions or for any living person who needs her help. ]

Edited 2013-06-21 14:01 (UTC)

The bird-like creature squawked loudly as it dove from the air. It's talons gleamed in the sun as it focused its attack on the man's shoulder. The monster never expected it's target to pivot, partially scale a wall, and leap back at it. Instead of it's talons latching into the man's flesh it was the blade of a hidden weapon that slammed through the monster's skull.
With his counterattack successfully killing the Rablanc Haytham straightened his stance and once more made for the castle. While the locals ran in the opposite direction he wanted to see just what was going on.
It was that adventitious spirit that made him pause and even move closer to the ghostly apparitions when he spotted them. It was a gathering of people, who made no sign of seeing him or even really existing... They could be seen through, much like ghosts really if those things were to be believed.
As he moved to join them he was not acknowledged. He slipped into the crowd easily and the longer he stayed the more he began to understand their strange language. After the second time this figment from the past began to repeat Haytham stepped away.

"It seems the castle has always been the focus of power here. Now... who was it that failed them?"

[It's weird, seeing the back alleys of Nickelhollow so deserted.

Vendors have abandoned their tents and goods, shady dealers of spirits-know-what are nowhere to be found. It's been more than 24 hours now, since the monsters started seeping out of the Castle, and they're starting to get stronger.

Stronger, Korra is quickly realizing, than she can handle.]

Can I get a little help over here?

[She calls over her shoulder as she takes on a Renachs with little success. It's a level 2er, from what she can remember, but Korra'd been so sure she could take it on on her own. Having recently gotten much better at her magic, she's gotten quite the confidence boost. But she's running out of vikrafte fast, and this fire beast isn't going to give her the time to stop and restore.]

[The first thing Zoe would think about when it comes to something made out of fire is... drop a bucket of water on it. So when she first saw the thing, she'd gone to do just that.

That Korra is there when she finally tracks the thing down is just luck. The bucket, filled with water from a fountain two blocks away, goes down behind her, and her shotgun comes up, aimed at the monster.]

Hey! Flamer! Over here! Try takin' on somethin' yer own size!

[Like many other of the Lancer's guild, he's out on peace keeping mission, taking care of the sudden surge of monsters in town. While they were relatively weak yesterday, today it seems stronger monsters are roaming the street as well. He's uneasy about what's happening, and the strange air blanketing the city added to it.

Following the direction monsters seem to come from he stops when out of nowhere, apparition of humans starts appearing everywhere to gather at one spot, doing something that he couldn't understand. After a while, he could hear them talking, or rather chanting something in an unknown language. As he stands there trying to make out what on earth is happening, he realizes he's beginning to understand what they are chanting about.]

....time? [He frowns at the scene, knowing by now that the apparitions couldn't see or hear him. He muses to himself, trying to figure out what they're talking about.] Something terrible happened and they are stuck in the limbo of time? Or is time something else?

[Zoey! Perfect.

Korra smirks, adding her own evoked water to Zoe's improvised weapon. It's slowing the beast down well enough with their combined efforts. She puts all her focus into dowsing Renachs with water to give Zoey an opening.]

Got a good shot?

[The bucket did douse some of the flames, once she got the thing's attention and it had lumbered close enough for her to use is. Now she's hopping back to avoid getting scorched, while Korra distracts it back her way.]

Don't see as I couldn't. Thing's plenty big enough.

[Even better, it's facing Korra now, so she's got a little trick up her sleeve. She takes a beat to line up the shot and breathe out, then pulls the trigger. The blindside catches the beast in the ribs, and it bellows and staggers, smoking copiously and flames dimming.]

Keep it focused on you, keep splashin' it. Face, if y'can.

[A second shot should take it out, she's sure, if she can get in another blindside attack.]

You got it!

[It's difficult, Korra is finding, to keep up the water. Her movements keep fading back into waterbending forms, her focus wavering more towards her movements than her thoughts. It occasionally shows, the streams of water growing weak as her attention breaks. But she manages to keep it up long enough for Zoey's opening not to close.

The creature is struggling, now, it's flaming body smoking and sputtering in the water.]

[The second shot is aimed for the side of the flamebeast's head, and Zoe gets another of those lucky blindsides in, with a mess of fire, smoke, and whatever passes for blood with a thing like that. The thing staggers to the side, gives a wet sort of moan, then hits its knees, flames starting to die and head drooping.

Zoe pumps another round into the shotgun, just in case, and approaches warily.]

Think that mighta done it.

WOOHOO!

[Korra's fists shoot up in the air, and she gives the defeated monster a celebratory kick. Not the most brilliant of ideas; the toe of her boot catches fire for a moment.]

Wooah- [A little evoked water does the trick. Problem solved. She does need to restore her stats, though. If another one of those things shows up, she's done for.]

Thanks! That was a close one for a while there. [Her age is definitely showing. Korra shoots a grin at Zoe.]

[Zoe more prudently waits until the sizzling has died down to blackened embers to nudge the monster's horns.]

Bit of a shame. Was a pretty thing. Suppose can't have somethin' made out of fire wanderin' around, though, burnin' down the city.

[She glances back at Korra, more serious than she is, obviously. Zoe tends to take battle a bit more seriously in general, though she knows there are other schools of thought....]

You shiny? Nothin' burned or bashed?

Nah, I should be good! Mages are good at fighting those elemental monsters.

[She folds her arms, still grinning.]

Mind sticking around so I can head downtown to get something for my magic?

[Just in case something nastier comes along... Something that isn't a Fire element.]

Don't mind at all. Rather you not get stomped on by 'nother one of these, or somethin' worse.

[Zoe motions with her chin for Korra to lead the way.]

What is it y'need, 'xactly?

Well, there are a bunch of different items, like potions and stuff, that will replenish my vikrafte. That's what lets me do magic.

[She doesn't quite get how or why it works, but that's par for the course with this magic stuff, anyway.

Korra starts down the street, toward the more central areas of the city where a vendor or two might be brave enough to venture out in this mess.]

Well, that's handy. Don't gotta sleep it off or nothin' then?

[Zoe, obviously, knows very little about magic. And is not exactly video-game-genre savvy, heh. She follows close at Korra's heels, gun at the ready with another round in the barrel, and eyes moving around them more than focusing on where they're going. Korra can handle that part.]

I could if I wanted, or if I didn't have any money, but with what's been going on...

[Korra glances back over her shoulder, frowning like she just heard something. Maybe she's just jumpy, but...]

You hear that?

[Zoe's even more jumpy, though in a more controlled manner, and she heard it, too. She turns quickly, looking around for the source.

Snuffling among some fallen foodstuffs from an abandoned market stand is a zwezard, one head nosing among the food for something it can eat, and the other looking around. It shrieks at the sight of them.]

[Korra cringes. Why does that thing have two... heads...?!]

...Any clue what type he is?

[And that shriek... Man, this thing is nasty. At least it's not on fire.]

Ain't seen that one b'fore. 'Spect it'll go down like anythin' else. Behind me, now, Korra.

[And she makes good on that by taking a step between the monster and the mage, shouldering the gun again-- just in time, as it's charging for them both. Zoe's shotgun blast goes wide, the creature not close enough yet for precise shot.]

[Korra shoots Zoe a perturbed look at her mention to get behind her. Even if it does make more sense, Korra's pride won't let her just hide out behind someone else. She moves with Zoe, keeping her eyes on the creature.]

I might be able to-

[She holds out a hand to try another Evoke, but it brings nothing but a pathetic puff of smoke.]

...Ooookay [So much for that.] Looks like it's all you.

[Much as she hates to admit it.]

Yeah.

[And in that time, the monster is almost on them, and Zoe hardly has time for a proper shotgun blast. She swears once, in Chinese, and is about to grab Korra with her free hand and yank them both out of the way, when the gun-- now held only one-handed and still pointed at the zwezard-- suddenly shudders, clacks, and reforms itself into a smaller, compact revolver.

Not about to ask questions, Zoe shoos again, this time more prepared for close range. One sprays blood, and the creature backpedals in a flailing sort of fashion.]

[Korra is starting to get frustrated at her own uselessness. She should be able to blast it with fire, or bend the earth out from under it, but she can't. These stupid people and their stupid world took her bending away, and now that she's exhausted her vikrafte, she's completely useless.

Then Zoe's gun does that weird change-o thing, and Korra forgets that she's supposed to be annoyed.]

Hey, it switched!

[Always one to state the obvious, she jumps slightly at the gunshot, her eyes darting back and forth between the lizard and the now smaller gun.]

Come onnnn...

Took it long 'nuff.

[That's all the time Zoe has for talking. The lizard skitters sideways, disoriented and in pain, and Zoe tracks it with the gun. A revolver gives her more versatility with aim and faster repeated shots, so she squeezes off two more bullets, one a grazing shot and the second lodging nicely in the creature's ribcage.

It falls over, scrabbling at the ground, and Zoe paces over, pulling out a short knife. Best put the thing out of its misery. If she can figure out where best to cut....]

Yeah...

[Guns, Korra is quickly deciding, are pretty gruesome. Sure, she's caused her fair share of damage with her fire evocations, but... This is just painful to watch. She cringes, slightly, when Zoe pulls out a knife. She wants to tell her to just hurry up, already!

But at the same time, she doesn't want to appear squeamish.]

[Really, Zoe hasn't had to deal with too many animals before her stay here, not killing them. But between trips to the castle and working with the rangers she bunks with, she's gotten more comfortably with it. The lizard thing gets two quick slices, once across each throat, and then the thing's lying still.

Zoe sighs just a little, and pushes to her feet after wiping the knife off on the monster's body as best she can.]

We'd best get a move on. I don't know how well ammo for a shotgun's gonna work for a revolver, goin' forward, or if it changed too, or what.

[It takes Korra a moment to register Zoe's words. She's still in something of a trance. She jumps, suddenly, back to attention.]

Yeah! Let's get going.

[She turns to face down the street once again, hoping against hope that nothing nasty pops up.]

((looks like a good wrapping point right there :) good to end or you got anything else you'd like to do?))

((Nope, that was my plan, too! Thanks for the thread!))

((very welcome, as always :) ))

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annivurtstag, princess lazuli! (20th-21st)

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20th!

20th - Near the Castle

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think we can have another monster to run into? I wanna get her gun to shapechange finally :D

Yeah, sure! Feel free to pick out whatever what you like

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