Vaudivolt
Rusty from the Rain
The Ragged Man & Sameborne Blossom B56192
After the ominous call rang out from the darkness, a silence fell over the tunnel. And while nobody spoke, tension mixed in with the sweetness in the air. Something rustled as if moving through leaves, and the shallow dripping of water echoed against the tunnel walls. Drip. Drip-drip. Click! The flintlock hammer fell, and a sudden, bright flash revealed the cavern with a hellish ringing. Vibrant colors flashed as a subterranean forest revealed itself. And across a field of grass and flowers stood a man clad in ragged robes. He jolted, shielding his eyes against the flash as the first lead ball burrowed into the wall of tangled roots behind him. The short had missed by an inch but revealed thrashing movements in the roots before everything went dark.
It was enough. When Darin loaded the second shot, he knew where to aim. Another bright flash showed the ragged man clutching his shoulder while a pained cry echoed against the returning darkness. The second shot had found purpose but forced the ragged man to anticipate further assault. And when the third shot came, the lead ball was caught by a shadowy vortex [1]. Sparks flew off the projectile as it slowed down against the magic barrier. And the man was able to pluck the warm lead from the air.
Then, from elsewhere, more sparks flew. Boreas had made use of the muzzle flashes to start a small fire. And as the flames began to grow, more of the cavern revealed itself. The stone walls of the cavern had disappeared behind massive roots that mimicked trees by sprouting thick leafage. The soil covering the ground seemed rich, covered in grasses and colorful wildflower bedding. Within the scarce light of the fire, pollen danced around, but none that came from the flowerbeds. At the other side of the cavern, behind the ragged man, a mass of roots coiled and twisted as a massive flower opened up to spread its pollen. Each of its petals was the size of a grown man, and the center opened up to reveal rows of teeth as a lashing, blue tendril shot out.
Noticing the change in lighting, the ragged man dropped the lead ball and placed his hand against the mass of roots [2]. The area surrounding his hand grew coarse and brown, withering away as the hole in his shoulder closed up. The ragged man rolled his shoulder and cast a piercing gaze toward Boreas. “I commend your ability to place conversation before violence,” He answered. Boreas could tell the man's attention was elsewhere. His eyes drifted between Paru and Deliverance. “However, who are you to make demands in another's abode?”
“You are undesirable, single-minded...” He continued conversing with Boreas while his hand gestured odd patterns [3]. The coiling roots of the monstrous flower swayed in tandem, reaching around the ragged man. “What will you do when I dictate that opinion to the roots you ask about?”
“Perhaps you will foolishly oppose nature itself?” The taunting words served as a starting signal for conflict. The question had barely left his mouth when Paru dashed forward, and the cavern filled with colorful orbs. The dim, magical light cast long shadows as the orbs bolted at their target. And Paru's blade glinted in response, reflecting their glow.
“Utterly foolish!” The ragged man flicked his wrist, and the swaying vines lashed out, purposefully colliding with anything approaching the man [1]. Upon collision, the magical orbs burrowed deep into the vines. The energy burned some and severed others as the flower's mass coiled and writhed. It appeared severely wounded from its defensive efforts.
Still, one more assailant remained, her sword trained on the ragged man. With most of the lashing vines occupied or torn apart by Deliverance's magic, only one remained to sacrifice itself for the ragged man. The vine threw itself on the sword and slowed the swing by letting itself get sliced. The mass writhed, trapping the blade within its vine before it could cut through the ragged man's neck. The blood of a shallow cut stained his clothes and dribbled over the blade as it sat against his skin.
Severely wounded and with danger standing in its reach, it was not the man, but the flower that responded desperately. Swaying its petals, it threw out a cloud of pollen [2]. The sweet scent carried an air of influence, an invasive defense mechanism that seemed physically harmless but meant to coerce the danger into retreating.
The Ragged Man
Action [1]: Dark Aegis - Magic F, Affinity [Dark] F, Barrier F, Energized F
Action [2]: Tribute - Magic E, Affinity [Dark] E, Vampiric E, Energized E
Action [3]: Mandate - Magic F, Energized F, Mind Control F
Sameborne Blossom
Action [1]: Brier Barrier - Natural Weapons [Vines] D, Area F, Flexible
Action [2]: Invasive Scent - Magic E, Affinity [Wind] E, Magic Area of Effect F, Mind Control F
StarPrincessVal
Voider
DarkKitsune
Elvario
After the ominous call rang out from the darkness, a silence fell over the tunnel. And while nobody spoke, tension mixed in with the sweetness in the air. Something rustled as if moving through leaves, and the shallow dripping of water echoed against the tunnel walls. Drip. Drip-drip. Click! The flintlock hammer fell, and a sudden, bright flash revealed the cavern with a hellish ringing. Vibrant colors flashed as a subterranean forest revealed itself. And across a field of grass and flowers stood a man clad in ragged robes. He jolted, shielding his eyes against the flash as the first lead ball burrowed into the wall of tangled roots behind him. The short had missed by an inch but revealed thrashing movements in the roots before everything went dark.It was enough. When Darin loaded the second shot, he knew where to aim. Another bright flash showed the ragged man clutching his shoulder while a pained cry echoed against the returning darkness. The second shot had found purpose but forced the ragged man to anticipate further assault. And when the third shot came, the lead ball was caught by a shadowy vortex [1]. Sparks flew off the projectile as it slowed down against the magic barrier. And the man was able to pluck the warm lead from the air.
Then, from elsewhere, more sparks flew. Boreas had made use of the muzzle flashes to start a small fire. And as the flames began to grow, more of the cavern revealed itself. The stone walls of the cavern had disappeared behind massive roots that mimicked trees by sprouting thick leafage. The soil covering the ground seemed rich, covered in grasses and colorful wildflower bedding. Within the scarce light of the fire, pollen danced around, but none that came from the flowerbeds. At the other side of the cavern, behind the ragged man, a mass of roots coiled and twisted as a massive flower opened up to spread its pollen. Each of its petals was the size of a grown man, and the center opened up to reveal rows of teeth as a lashing, blue tendril shot out.
Noticing the change in lighting, the ragged man dropped the lead ball and placed his hand against the mass of roots [2]. The area surrounding his hand grew coarse and brown, withering away as the hole in his shoulder closed up. The ragged man rolled his shoulder and cast a piercing gaze toward Boreas. “I commend your ability to place conversation before violence,” He answered. Boreas could tell the man's attention was elsewhere. His eyes drifted between Paru and Deliverance. “However, who are you to make demands in another's abode?”“You are undesirable, single-minded...” He continued conversing with Boreas while his hand gestured odd patterns [3]. The coiling roots of the monstrous flower swayed in tandem, reaching around the ragged man. “What will you do when I dictate that opinion to the roots you ask about?”
“Perhaps you will foolishly oppose nature itself?” The taunting words served as a starting signal for conflict. The question had barely left his mouth when Paru dashed forward, and the cavern filled with colorful orbs. The dim, magical light cast long shadows as the orbs bolted at their target. And Paru's blade glinted in response, reflecting their glow.
“Utterly foolish!” The ragged man flicked his wrist, and the swaying vines lashed out, purposefully colliding with anything approaching the man [1]. Upon collision, the magical orbs burrowed deep into the vines. The energy burned some and severed others as the flower's mass coiled and writhed. It appeared severely wounded from its defensive efforts.
Still, one more assailant remained, her sword trained on the ragged man. With most of the lashing vines occupied or torn apart by Deliverance's magic, only one remained to sacrifice itself for the ragged man. The vine threw itself on the sword and slowed the swing by letting itself get sliced. The mass writhed, trapping the blade within its vine before it could cut through the ragged man's neck. The blood of a shallow cut stained his clothes and dribbled over the blade as it sat against his skin.
Severely wounded and with danger standing in its reach, it was not the man, but the flower that responded desperately. Swaying its petals, it threw out a cloud of pollen [2]. The sweet scent carried an air of influence, an invasive defense mechanism that seemed physically harmless but meant to coerce the danger into retreating.
The Ragged Man
Action [1]: Dark Aegis - Magic F, Affinity [Dark] F, Barrier F, Energized F
Action [2]: Tribute - Magic E, Affinity [Dark] E, Vampiric E, Energized E
Action [3]: Mandate - Magic F, Energized F, Mind Control F
Sameborne Blossom
Action [1]: Brier Barrier - Natural Weapons [Vines] D, Area F, Flexible
Action [2]: Invasive Scent - Magic E, Affinity [Wind] E, Magic Area of Effect F, Mind Control F
StarPrincessVal
Voider
DarkKitsune
Elvario
BOREAS MOONSHIRE🗡
