Fantasy Aetherspark IC

[Gummy Worm]

Denver looked down as Korro spoke to him. He knew Korro was right, Denver had pushed himself too far and now was weak. He nodded to the wolf and sat down allowing Dio sto sit in his lap as he pet him gently "Go" he said to Korro. "Finish this ok?" he said with a smile as he leaqned back against the wall. ready to get up if something happened

SilverFlight

 

[Stern LuLuLu]

Lena would pick herself up from the ground using her ice mount. Seeing that the colossal Ravager Queen was on the ground, not moving anymore made her feel a bit of relief, but it was now obscured by a cloud of dust, along with where the Entomancer had also been obscured by a dust cloud. Lena would see Kanon walking towards where the Entomancer should be with her sword at the ready. Lena would hop on top of her mount and head towards Cheetah and place her where the Steel-mage was before on her mount. She moved to the Steel mage to retrieve the potion, she gave him and gave one to the unconscious Cheetah.” There you go.” Before she began getting ready to fight just in case something happened.”Is the Entomancerdead.”She called out.

As Warren was fighting with Blestare and the Lyrenian Knight. He would occasionally take a glance at Aaliyah to make sure she was safe when she went to heal Denver. Happy to see the little goat pull though. “ Beautiful work as ever Aaliyah.”He would witness the Ravager Queen finally fall for go and Entomancer fall into a cloud of dust leaving his fate unknown. He would continue with Blestare and company to make sure that the others could do whatever they needed to.

MageMantis SilverFlight Fangs9090 Noble Scion Gummy Worm

 

[MageMantis]

(( Gummy Worm LustrousFox @HypnoFuzz Fangs9090 Stern LuLuLu Noble Scion SilverFlight )

Steel-Mage poured the healing potion into Elixen's mouth, her injuries beginning the process of healing, although the cheetah would require more medical attention. Ko remained in his hiding spot, the Kobold having tactically concealed himself the whole battle, or at least that was how he saw it.

From the dust, six ghostly green eyes could be seen approaching. With the speed and force of a cannonball, the Entomancer flew to the Dragonborn Warlock-Fighter with the giant buzzing wings of a wasp. The Dragonborn Warlock-Fighter had isolated himself farther from the others in hopes of surviving, which made the Entomancer target him first. The Dragonborn's survival instincts had been a fatal mistake. The Entomancer seized the Dragonborn before he could react, taking off into the air with him as the Dragonborn dropped his halberd, screaming profusely during the flight before the Entomancer came barreling to the ground from above. The Entomancer slammed the Dragonborn onto the ground near the other mercenaries with such force, that they were all sent flying a short distance. Steel-Mage and Elixen were pushed off of the icy mount as a result of the force, the Warforged tumbling into a large rock as he sat against it twitching. The ground slam left a bundle of cracks in the ground below, the fractures in the floor spreading across the room. The force of the ground slam also cleared all of the remaining dust, revealing the Entomancer hovering over a bloody mess of flesh and scale-piles that could barely be recognized as the Dragonborn, a few limbs sticking out from what resembled some sort of crimson fish chum. A bloodshot reptilian eyeball rolled in front of Warren and Aayliah.

The Entomancer hovered high in the air with his four arms spread out while his giant wasp-wings buzzed faster than that of a hummingbird's, basking in his new form. He possessed a black and green exoskeleton that acted as impenetrable armor and was draped in a black sorcerer's robe reminiscent of a reaper's. He was barefoot, his feet now ending with claws that mirrored the daggers on the end of each of his fingers. Akenian's figure was a distressing 2.4384 meters/ 8-feet tall. Lastly, pulled over his head was a black hood that sat under a magnificent twisted black crown with glowing green cracks and spikes that resembled that of a stag beetle's. His robe was soaked with red blood from his most recent victim, a symbol of his homicide-habit. He sickeningly licked some of the blood on the back on of one of his hands, savoring the taste, "Delicious." Commented Akenian.

Steel-Mage pointed his wand-hand at the Entomancer, popping multiple rapid beams of fire at the madman. The Entomancer effortlessly dodged each one before zipping to the Warforged and ripping his head off. Being unfamiliar with Warforges entirely, the Entomancer assumed this would finish the job as he dropped the head next to Steel-Mage's dilapidated body, before he then casually flicked away a segmented-blade launched at his head from Blestare whilst he was still studying the Warforged's body with curiosity using his six green eyes. The Entomancer then snapped his head to face a mortified Blestare in the distance, who was frozen with fright. Tonnie looked to her friend with horrified eyes, too swarmed with terror to act.

In a flash, the Entomancer closed the distance between himself and the winged-wolf. The Entomancer snatched the white wolf by the throat, lifting him off his feet as Blestare attempted to breathe. The Entomancer constantly hovered above the ground utilizing his relentless wings which stuck out of his robes. Akenian then turned his head to the other mercenaries, his sinister eyes radiating the room,

"Weak, insignificant, pathetic." Lamented he, tossing Blestare on the ground in front of himself when he said 'pathetic.' Blestare let out a shout when he was tossed, his body colliding with the dirt. He then hovered over Blestare, one of his feet just above Blestare's head. "Fools who believed they could stomp me out." Continued he, Blestare wincing as he prepared to meet his end similar to a pest that had wandered into someone's abode. "I could execute every last one of you with no thought." The Entomancer hovered away from Blestare, now hovering towards Kanon. as his gaze remained fixed on all of them. "Lowly, worthless creatures. Conspiring with Hum-" The Entomancer swiftly dodged a quick ball of acid launched at his head from Tonnie, Akenian rushing to the witch with his fluttering wings and backhanding her in the face, "FILTHY CRETINS!" Shouted he. The sound of Tonnie's nose breaking burst into the air as black blood trickled from it, her body hitting the ground unconscious.

"You conspire with Humans, who brand me a pest...and yet, they are oblivious to their stain on Rekronia." The Entomancer turned, glaring at the Lyrenian Knight who was sat on the ground after having been knocked over earlier from his ground slam. He looked up as the Entomancer approached him, crawling away. "You Humans are nothing short of disgusting, hateful, selfish, lowlife FILTH. Constantly taking, betraying all other kinds, exploiting your gifts, you are the worst parasites on this realm." The Entomancer then hovered to the mangled mess that was once the Dragonborn, floating over the remains. It was made apparent to all of the mercenaries that the Entomancer was likely too potent, too fast for any of their attacks to have a real chance against him, at least not after the recent battle had drained them of their strength. Even still, it was a hero's instinct to not go quietly.

"Humans are dirt...No, Humans are less than dirt. Such horrid, putrid, reprehensible, awful-"

The Entomancer's head exploded into bloody bits like a crushed watermelon. His monologue had come to a blunt end, his body collapsing on the floor as his crown had went flying into the air before landing on top of his chest. Two of the Entomancer's eyes were sent flying as they rolled in front of Kanon. Barracuda gripped his snap lock pistol, having it still pointed at the spot the once living Elf had been hovering. The Entomancer, for as long as he had lived, had one weakness: With their rarity and novelty throughout the lands, he had no idea what a gun was. Seeing the Wyrmsteel bolt having finished its job, Barracuda lowered his gun.

Steel-Mage grabbed his head, simply re-attaching it to the rest of his body as he crawled back to his allies. Ko jolted out of cover, laughing maniacally as he scuttled on top of the Entomancer's corpse, snatching his crown and raising it above his scaly head, "ME WIN!" Exclaimed he as he set it on top of his head, prior to the ground right beneath him giving way and collapsing into a hole. The Kobold's screams faded into oblivion as he plummeted down a seemingly endless pit, before the eerie sounds of something striking a river of acid could be heard. It would be reasonable to presume that the Kobold was no more.

With the battle over, and the Entomancer's two eyes as evidence of their success, it remained to be seen how they would all return to Lyrenia. For now however, had seemed that the dust had finally settled on the cacophony of death.

 

[Fangs9090]

Kanon scowled at the loose eyes, though she still collected them into a small burlap pouch. Their employers would want proof of the deed, after all. Some might argue that the end was a bit lackluster, but Kanon would not. The madman was silenced at last, so she would be grateful for that. As she made her way back to Adelynn, she removed her sheath from her back and sheathed her sword at last. She kept the sheathed weapon in hand though, so that she’d be able to draw it quickly if any stray bugs decided to be hostile.

By the time Kanon got to her, Adelynn had relaxed, slightly. Enough that she could finally catch her breath. She hadn’t quite released the death grip she had on her shield though.

 

[Gummy Worm]

Denver chuckled to himself. "Thats it?" he asked as he hoisted himself up with his staff. smiling at Dio and Ky as they fluttered their wings "All of that and he dies from a bullet to the head?" he asked looking around before looking down at Ky, "Well. you people are safe now. This palace is yours!" he said offering a hand to the blue mantis as he knelt down. Denver looked around for Korro and anyone who needed medical attention.

MageMantis SilverFlight

 

[MageMantis]

Gummy Worm Noble Scion

“I no longer want this palace! I want to stay with the gray monkey!” Demanded Kyanite, referring to Korro. “Our other brethren are scattered and strangers and mother is deceased. I also have never gotten to try all of the world’s rumored…” He paused, raising his arms. “Fooood.” Finished he, stretching out the word’s syllables in a strange pattern of speech.

Elixen was unconscious and badly injured, and Tonnie was unconscious with a broken nose. Blestare rushed to her, whimpering with his eyes flooded with tears. Blestare believed he had lost her, only for his fear to be doused with relief and joy when Tonnie sat up, black blood trickling down her nose.

Quickclaw walked to the others, her tail missing. She looked at where her tail used to be and then the others, “It’ll grow back.” Assured she hastily.

 

[Noble Scion]

Aaliyah Sh'ahn

Spoiler: Cloak

Aaliyah barely registered Korro's words, only somewhat being comforted by the Denver stirring from his unconsciousness, deep breaths shaking her chest as she'd sit next to Denver, her eyes darting for the next sign of danger as she'd hum an affirmation back to the wolf's attempt at encouragement. "Mm... mhmm..."

"I... I d-did." Was what she'd manage to stammer out to the goat, the constant gruesome sights taking their toll, especially now that she'd been in close proximity to them and had even learned their names. Silently counting down the people until it would be her turn. Even the small ball of water seemed to quiver, threatening to fall from the air as the smooth sphere began furiously rippling, in too much of a frenzy to even notice the entomancer's fall and 'revival'.

Yet her job was not yet done, lifting herself up once more at the words of Warren, only for the visceral sight of the dragonborn being crushed and the sick universe tossing a stray eye in front of her.

Already nauseous, the sight proved too much as the ball would splash onto the ground, Aaliyah herself falling to her knees as she'd unpleasantly spew out her share of the rations from the morning onto the stone floor, missing most of his monologue and even his uneventful demise as she'd cough and splutter before shakily collapsing next to Denver for a minute.

Giving herself a moment, she'd meekly push herself back up again, the pool of water pulling itself off the ground once more to form a warbling sphere once again, more stable now that she'd gotten that out of her system. Staggering over to the cheetah and quietly, solemnly getting to work, not wanting to talk about it as she'd try and heal the broken and battered Elixen.

MageMantis SilverFlight Gummy Worm Stern LuLuLu

 

[MageMantis]

Noble Scion

The healing on Elixen was successful, her ripped tendons re-connecting to each other as her wounds were washed away. She slowly re-gained consciousness. Her body had returned to its normal color, the durability and strength-boost effect that she had granted herself having recently been lifted. It had most definitely saved her life, in addition to Korro's strength. Her eyes opened to see the Sahagin, her mouth curling into a warm smile,

"Thank you, Aayliah." The Cheetah slowly stood on her four legs, struggling a bit in the process. She then looked around, immediately leaping into a fighting stance. "Where is our enemy!?" Asked she in a panicked tone.

 

[Fangs9090]

Kanon glanced over at the question. “Dead, at last. All that remains is to recover and then return to deliver the news.” She sighed and shook her head. “Unfortunately, we’ll have to walk. I don’t think any of the carriages we arrived in survived.”

 

[MageMantis]

Noble Scion Fangs9090 LustrousFox

(Edited):

Elixen listened to the Pandafolk, calming down. Tonnie and Blestare had hugged each other before re-grouping with the others, Tonnie casting a quick healing spell on herself to restore her broken nose. She looked at the survivors, noticing that Jamie was not among them. Tonnie felt a sadness within her, as she assumed that the gentlemen's absence meant he had likely fallen in valor. However, it was entirely possibly that Jamie had either retreated before they entered the throne room or was dragged into a cave in the chaos of the battle and simply was now stuck somewhere else in the fortress, but to Tonnie, these options felt unlikely. While she had not known the furred-gentlemen for too long, she had grown to like him, and had hoped he would survive this horrid ordeal.

Sensing her sadness, Blestare stared at Tonnie with a solemn gaze. "I'm sorry." Sadly expressed he as they hugged once more.

The Lyrenian Knight walked to Kanon. "Red Knight." Addressed he. "From this day forth, I will personally see that you and your company will be welcomed and remembered by Lyrenia. Thank you for helping save my kingdom. May the gods watch over you on your quest to find the Aetherspark."

Elixen looked to Sahagin that had helped saved her life. "Aayliah, you do not seem like the type to search for trouble. What possessed you to partake in this siege?" Questioned she.

Meanwhile, Quickclaw looked to the other mercenaries. "You wouldn't suppose anybody here can transform into a...I don't know, giant bird or something that can fit 17 people?" Spoke she.

 

[Stern LuLuLu]

Lena and Warren would watch the Entomancer's display of power and listen to his speech but the only thing wanted to mind was ways to deal with him. But all of that would come for not as he was shot down by the gunslinger. She could not help but laugh at what happened. Before moving over to the others. “ Another adventure of Lena and her assistant has come to a close. “ She would take out a golden potion and drink it.” Oh, that was nice now I say let’s get out of here if everyone wouldn’t mind hopping on. I am dangerously l on potions and ingredients to make things with. And I just drank my last one to refill replenish myself.” She said, as as she fits the cracks on her ice mount having its body crawl over to where everyone was.

As the battle ended, Warren would only walk over to where Aayliah was and down on the ground, exhausted looking around, for where his injuries were. He had several cuts scratches, and bruises but none went in too deep. “ Don’t worry about me just focus on the others. They need it way more.” He would just later until Lena came over with her icy mount.

Something suddenly dawned on later. “Oh yeah, what about the Aetherspark?”

MageMantis SilverFlight Noble Scion Gummy Worm Fangs9090

 

[Gummy Worm]

Denver smiled listening to the blur matis speak before looking over at Aaliyah with worry in his eyes. It seemed she was experencing the same magic indused sickness that Denver was. hpwever it was clear the Merfolk wanted to be left alone so Denver turned to engage in the conversation. "yeah...what do we do now?" he asked looking around "what did this have to do with finding the Aetherspark?" he asked curiously

 

[Fangs9090]

Kanon dipped her head to the knight. “Thank you. I hope your kingdom agrees with you.” She looked over at Denver. “The Aetherspark is a mystery, many consider it to be a myth. Our employers offered information on this artifact as payment for all of this. For their sake, that information better be true.”

 

[SilverFlight]

Korro was blown off his feet with the others, recovering quickly he watched the incredible speed and power of their enemy's new form. He knew he could not match it, but still.

The wolf leapt up, aiming a strike at the entomancer's whirring wings, only to be backhanded by one of his many arms. He watched the dragonborn turned to jelly in one attack and cursed. All looked grim, and Korro glanced back at Denver, about to yell at him and the other healer to run. Suddenly a crack like thunder split the air, and before Korro could turn around, the broken body of their ultimate foe hit the ground. Korro stared for a moment in shock, then looked beyond the corpse to Barracuda, the barrel of his strange weapon still smoking.

He got up slowly. The entomancer's head was a ruin, he was dead. Korro allowed himself to breathe.
He looked around the room to the few survivors, a small number in comparison to what they entered here with, still, anything you could walk away from was a victory.
His arm was still torn and bleeding, but only now did the pain begin to settle in.

Korro watched the others collect, the ice-beetle Lena had looked big enough to carry them, he wondered if it could still fly encased in ice as it was.
At length he went to find Denver.
"Are you all right?" He asked, approaching the goat with a slow step. Kyanite leapt onto his shoulder, burying himself in Korro's hackle fur and trilling happily.
"Hello bug," Korro said with a hint of affection. "Glad to see you survived this too."

At the mention of the Aetherpark, Korro barely stirred, he didn't care two licks about the thing. Strangely though, seeing Denver alive and relatively unscathed, given what had happened, made him feel like his effort was not wasted.

"Your compassion." Korro began, as he stood beside Denver, watching the others. "I said I would tell you why you mattered, when this was done. It is your compassion." He folded an ear back against his head, somewhat embarrassed to continue. "It is like...a light, a light I think this world needs, so...if you don't hate the idea...I'd...I'd like to stay by your side. Until the Aetherspark is found."

Korro had a feeling the goddess meant for someone like Denver to find this rare treasure, and that was part of why he had asked, the other part? Korro wasn't ready to admit that yet. Not even to himself.

MageMantis Gummy Worm

 

[Fangs9090]

Adelynn couldn’t help but overhear Korro and smiled their way. “That sounds familiar. Kanon said something similar when we first met.”

 

[Gummy Worm]

Denver looked up at the wolf and smiled a little, watching Ky snuggle up to Korro much like Dio did to him warmed his heart. Denver looked away as Korro spoke, he didn't fully believe the wolf but he wouldnt argue with him especially in such a touching moment. The goats face rose in temperature and his face flushed red underneath his fur Dever giggled a bit and hugged Korro tight. he wasent that tall so he was more hugging Korros waist but still. "I would love to!" he said before stepping back. Korro made Denver feel safe, like the smell of rain. Sure he was a big rugged but that just added to the charm for the goat.

SilverFlight

 

[SilverFlight]

There it was, that giggle. It was almost enough to make him smile. Then, Denver did something he never saw coming:
Korro felt arms hug him tightly and his whole body went rigid. The wolf stared blankly at the young goat as he drew back, completely disarmed, and without a single word to help him. In all his years, he had no memory of anyone doing that to him, they would never have dared.

Unbeknownst to the fierce wolf fighter, the tip of his tail began to wave back and forth, betraying him thoroughly.
"R-right." He stammered, after a long pause. Korro lead the way to the giant ice beetle and offered a hand to help Denver climb aboard.

Gummy Worm

 

[Fangs9090]

At least something good came out of this nightmare. Kanon got Adelynn to her feet before helping her up onto their unconventional mount. She only hopes it wasn’t as cold as it seemed or this would be a rather uncomfortable trip. Especially for those without fur. Regardless, she climbed aboard.

 

[MageMantis]

Fangs9090 Stern LuLuLu

“I can assure you, it is true.” Responded the Lyrenian Knight to Kanon. “In the past month, a traitor amongst our ranks leaked that our intelligence had recently discovered the first ever lead to the Aetherspark. Fortunately, the worm did not know what the lead exactly was. Now, many across our continent of Rekronia and beyond know that my kingdom knows the first lead to the Aetherspark. My people have no interest chasing artifacts that attract doom, but we knew many did. The Entomancer had been a plague on our kingdom for centuries, so we put out the contract. I do wish that the King and Queen had been more specific about the dangers that awaited you all, but soon enough you will be able to have an audience with them when we report back.” Explained the knight as he climbed onto the icy mount’s back.

Blestare, Tonnie, Barracuda, Quickclaw carrying Steel-Mage, Elixen, and Akila embarked onto the icy mount. “Watch the jewelry, it is worth more than your whole inventory, filthy half-breed.” Spat Akila to Warren as she boarded.

“Geomancer, can you detect if there is another level above the ceiling? If not, can you create a hole in it so that we may leave this wretched place and fly back to Lyrenia?” Asked Barracuda to Warren as he started reloading his guns. If Warren used his seismic sense on the stone-carved fortress, he would detect that the ceiling was a thin layer of stone, perfect for carving out a hole to the outside.

 

[Fangs9090]

“I do intend to have some words about that.”

Adelynn looked over. “Just don’t get arrested…”

“I will make the attempt.”

 

[Stern LuLuLu]

Lena smiled hearing that they had information on what they came here looking for before having everyone get on her mount before she started to fly up listening to the knight's request. She would take them up to the ceiling above, Warren would make sure that Aaliyah was aboard before anything, even helping her to get on the mount before he went to work too, could see if he could find something. Warren placed his hand on the ceiling to see if could feel anything after a moment, a shot of energy went from the ceiling to Warren, then back up again. This resulted in a pathway being opened upwards, big enough for the mount to crawl through which Lena had proceeded to have it do. “That should work for now hopefully. “ I do apologize if any of my blood gets on any of your jewelry Akila. I can’t help but to bleed and take more than one hit in a fight. and you have no idea how much my inventory cost. Also by the way, weird snake lady. I am a full-blooded Fay. Lena said back her . Warren looked over to the Lyrenian knight giving him a look that this is all I could find then back to Aaliya. “ If you can try to rest you have been doing a lot since the fight ended.” Before he offered his shoulder for her to lean on. It was obvious that Lena only had her eyes set on whether or not they could find the Aetherspark.


MageMantis Noble Scion

 

[SilverFlight]

Curiosity got the better of him and Korro glanced at Adelynn with an expression of peaked interest.
"What did she say?"

((I meant to include this before, but I completely forgot))

Fangs9090

 

[Gummy Worm]

Denver smiled a bit and took Korros hand as he climbed aboard. He sat next to the wolf and glanced over at him for a second before looking away as his tail swayed happily. He wasent sure what would happen next but with Korro by his side he didnt really care.

SilverFlight

 

[Noble Scion]

Aaliyah Sh'ahn

Spoiler: Cloak

Only once Elixen stood up did Aaliyah let herself relax a little, curling up into a ball as her 'long face' would rest on her knees, leaving someone else to answer as she'd work herself down from her panicking with warm thoughts of home, her breathing gradually growing less fearsome and frantic, returning to something more normal as she'd keep her eyes on a wall, thankfully void of gore, her water having dried up completely after using the rest of it on the mortally wounded cheetah.

"N-no worries-" she'd mumble dizzily back to the woman's words of thanks before her next question would find its way to her ears. Honestly she'd come for the adventure, but after seeing all these horrors and how real adventurers had been putting their lives on the line, it almost felt like an insult to say as much.

"... By accident. I am not very good at reading your human-tongue writings. I'd thought this would be... a less intense start to my adventuring." Aaliyah would hum, it was all the truth, albeit leaving out the why's. The longer she could keep her identity secret, the better, which drew her eyes back to Akila, her traumatised eyes glaring at the woman as she'd hope that things would just be left as it was after all of that chaos.

Though Warren sliding gently to her side would bring her no small amount of comfort, his words kind and selfless despite his injuries, though Aaliyah could only give him an apologetic look.

"I don't have any water to work with, and.. Frankly i've never had to use my ability this much or as intensely before, much less outside of the ocean. I'm exhausted." she'd hum back to him, the mana nausea a new experience for her. It might've been hard to tell given the difference in species, but Aaliyah was definitely much paler than when they'd first met in the tunnel. For her though, it just showed that she definitely still had room for more training. An hour of casual tutoring from her father on her abilities was a very different experience from... all this.

She didn't complain as Warren would help her onto the mount, as uncomfortable as she was sitting next to the undead snake, keeping quiet as she'd listen to this talk of the aetherspark, something even her naive ears had heard about, cheered up slightly by the prospect of her hard work being rewarded, though not enough to stop her sulking, glum face and droopy ears being all that was visible under her bloodied cloak.
MageMantis Stern LuLuLu

 

[Fangs9090]

Adelynn looked at Korro. "I don't remember the exact words, but she was touched by my offer of food and shelter and pledged to serve me right then and there."

Kanon chipped in. "Her food and shelter consisted of half a loaf of bread and an old crate. She had almost nothing, and offer to share it with me simply because I was walking by in the rain. Before meeting her, I had never seen such kindness and compassion. I've seen countless lords and nobles born into power, believing it's their right to step on others and using their wealth for their own gain. I left my home because I could not serve such people. But I believe Adelynn would make for a fitting ruler."

"I'm still not convinced, but I'll give it a try."

"Politics and economy can be taught. Kindness and compassion cannot."