Graded [Azuran City] The Sewertorium's depths

[saxon]

Kasumi Kagu
​

Kasumi looked over at their shadow friend who seemed to like not being noticed or at least hiding in the shadow. Though she pushed that to the back of her mind as he asked if it was some kind of game or torture. "Uh well, that....I don't think we can say anyone for certain. For all, we know it could have been an accident though they don't seem to be aggressive from here at least." Kasumi points out as she brought her hand up to her chin and started to tap it for a moment.

Kasumi smirked as the giant lizard mentioned the goblins from the previous floor. "I doubt anyone would care about fewer goblins," she chuckled with a simple shrug of her shoulders before standing up now on top of the dune of sand. She was eager to be rid of the desert she found it gross and the sweat made her hair stick to the back of her neck and the side of her face. Though she wasn't sure what the puzzle was here, the stairs were right in front of them. Though that only made her more curious about the whole thing.

"Well looks can be deceiving so I suppose we should get this over with and find out what is going to happen yeah?" Kasumi stated with a smile as she started to saunter down toward the little village. She figured worst case she could probably run away from the small creatures that were no larger than the size of a halfling. Though they continued to sing their song with various rhythms in them.

Though it didn't take long for the creatures to take notice of the new arrival as they threw their hands up and started to run around the whole village. Some of them rushed to their stalls and a few others grabbed some kind of trumpet and made a call with the sound. Then there was the crowd that now gathered as she reached the edge of the village.

Though now the group stopped singing their song and the noises they were making sounded like gibberish as voice was now heard, "Welcome, welcome! We don't often get travelers in the desert and even rarer to they come to our village," A man with wrinkles that seemed to cover his eye no doubt a halfling. Though Kasumi was stunned for a moment as she hadn't expected the man to speak common.

The old man cleared his throat as the other creatures started to surround Kasumi in a circle slowly. "So can we interest you in some premium Isekai Hell merchandise? We got plushie Michael the blue knight," The old man spoke as several of them held up the plushie that looked like Michael. Kasumi looked dumbfounded as this was all going on. "No? Oh then we have just the thing for you! How about a Kristina plushie?" No? Uh well then we got Isekai Hell the t-shirt, Isekai Hell the lunch box, Isekai Hell the breakfast cereal! Plus we even got robo Ceylan, which even comes with a ball! Ever wanted to play catch with Ceylan? Well now you can, and the best part, he's his own best friend!"

Kasumi stood there with her mouth wide open as the list when on and on, it was like every character had their own plushie or was on some kind of merchandise and literally seemed felt like she had seen this somewhere before. Though she couldn't put her finger on it. Hell there was even a rather large plushie of Baharius that was about as tall as a dining room chair.

mentions: Develius gmimperfecti

 

[gmimperfecti]

The old man cleared his throat as the other creatures started to surround Kasumi in a circle slowly. "So can we interest you in some premium Isekai Hell merchandise? We got plushie…which even comes with a ball! Ever wanted to play catch with Ceylan? Well now you can, and the best part, he's his own best friend!"

“Is this a non-murdering puzzle we must solve?” Vanta said to Kashmir, watching her stand with her mouth open.

Then after a pause he turned to the old man, “Can I buy them on credit? What interest do you charge? Do you take bulk orders? What’s your minimum purchase price?”

Vanta was curious. After so many years and a life time ago some of these items jogged memories from his previous life.

mentions: Develius gmimperfecti
saxon

 

[Develius]

---

Mentions:
| saxon (Kasumi Kagu) | gmimperfecti (Vanta) |
​

---

With Kasumi taking initiative, Baharius would follow as they all descended down the sand dune and towards the little village. As they got to the entrance, he'd find that the residents appeared to be of the skittish variety. They ran around frantically, with many calling the alarm through the long blaring of trumpets alerting the village of their presence. The saurian gave a curious, yet cautious, eye as he bore witness to a crowd beginning to form. "Ready yourselves..." the saurian warned lowly, as he looked upon the squat residents. He certainly wasn't worried about being overrun if they dared to attack him, but neither was he willing to slaughter an entire village of their transgressions. That being said though, he'd noted how they didn't appear to be the aggressive type of natives. If anything they seemed rather curious of them.

And indeed, the elder of the establishment would approach the party and greet them kindly, mentioning how they don't receive many guests around these parts. Baharius' expression softened at their reassurance; giving a mild guttural exhale as his upward defensive stance, that made him look even bigger than he was already, beginning to hunch back into his neutral posture. Soon the natives began to surround them, eying and gawking at their appearance and wares. While a bit uncomfortable, the saurian wasn't too worried at this stage about engaging in a fight. He looks towards the Elder with a curious look. "What is this place?" was all he asked.

What he expected to hear was something along the lines of a humble village just scrapping to get by through the desert. They wouldn't want to be in any trouble or conflict, though perhaps let them replenish any supplies or give them something for their travels. And while they indeed had merchandise for the travelers, what they DID sell was something oddly peculiar. Plushies. Stuffed dolls that appeared to be representing various popular figures in the land of Isekai Hell. The saurian gave a sideways glance at the first few figures that were named. While he didn't know any of their names, let alone encounter them, they were too specific to be considered as just random fictional names. Unless that's what they were of course.

But not only did the villagers sell plushies, but also a variety of clothing and commercial nicknacks as if he was in a museum or theme park attraction. Very few were present in his world, especially in the lands he was raised in, but the commercialized districts of various entertainment and leisure sectors was more familiar with him. It all felt rather surreal to Baharius, as he tried to process everything thrown in his face. Yet the thing that most shocked him, out of everything else, was a doll. A very PARTICULAR doll in fact.

It was a doll of himself!

While nowhere near as big as the massive saurian himself, it was still as tall as a dining chair and as long as a small rug. It was clearly a simplified-plush of his likeness, yet it surprisingly sported relatively accurate patterns that he adorned; from the subtle placement of the yellow rings on his sail, to the placement and number of his facial scars! Baharius was dumbfounded as he step forth to inspect his plushy counterpart. He couldn't help but touch it; gliding his claw across the surprisingly soft yet firm materials. How... How did they know of him? They didn't seem to recognize him when they entered, but surely they SOMEHOW knew about his existence within the months he's been here. After all, the way they captured his likeness in plush form was absolutely impressive! Was this a trick? Was this some kind of remnant from his days as a gladiator? He never even heard of innocent stuffed figures of him or any of the fighters he faced be sold within the gladiatorial premises!

What was he to feel about all this? Honored? Concerned?

Perhaps... but if there was one thing that he felt was the irresistible urge... to buy it! Only for the other side of his sub-conscious to protest loudly for them to leave it alone. It was pretty big after all... though with the sack he carried, he could certainly fit it if he wanted to. Baharius shifted his stupor towards the elder, pointing his claw at his own plushie. "H-How... How much?" stammered the saurian curiously.

 

[saxon]

Kasumi Kagu
​

Kasumi simply shrugged her shoulders as the shadow fae asked his question. "it could be a puzzle but it might just be something we can walk through," she pointed out as the other had finally joined her now. When the fae started to ask about credit and interest rates it brought her back to before she arrived in this world, though that seemed like an entirely different life time ago now.

The old man simply rubbed his chin, "No, no we don't take credit here, we trade metal here that's how things work. I know you over worlders has metal coins you trade for goods. As for the minimum price depends on what you are looking at and for bulk orders I suppose, though that would take some time." The old man explained as he clasped his hands behind his back and walked over towards Baharius.

"What is this place? Well it is our home, the village in the sand. Though that is what others call it anyway. Though like I said we don't often get visitors out this far. Typically they don't come to see us at all or just pass right on through." The old man explained as he kicked some sand around with his foot.

When the Lizard walked over towards the giant plushie of himself and asked the question the elder tilted his head side to side for a moment. "Uh well we could see you that large one for 15 of those coins you all use up there," The man offered as he waited to see what the giant lizard was going to say to that offer.

Meanwhile Kasumi started to look round at the various stalls, though there wasn't much else of note to mention besides the merchandise that looked like some people she had met before and others she had not. "Would be best to not linger here too long unless you want to spend a lot of your hard-earned coin," She pointed out not really as a warning but as a fact.

mentions: Develius gmimperfecti

 

[gmimperfecti]

Vanta shrugged. “Onwards then?”

He walked around looking for a doll or merchandise that represented himself but not finding it. “Interesting that there isn’t one of me here.” He frowned, glancing at the old man. “Let’s see how much debt and hunger there is in the world.”

Vanta summons the Lost Eyes of Byatis’s Forgetfulness above his head, appraising the area 100 feet around him. The black eye hungrily making bare what what was missing, lost, and hungry.

 

[Develius]

---

Mentions:
| saxon (Kasumi Kagu) | gmimperfecti (Vanta) |
​

---

15 coins. Fifteen gold coins and the chair-sized plushie of himself was his. Was it worth spending to indulge a bit of vanity upon his own image? The cost seemed surprisingly fair compared to what he might see in a traditional market; with something similarly usually being marketed up for more than it was truly worth. Even if he does go ahead and buy it... where was he to store it? Sure he had his handy sack, but what if it got damaged during a fight? Or lost? It would be dishonorable to see this "one-of-a-kind" piece be sullied by avoidable conflict. Neither does he claim a permanent place of residence in which to place it safely. But... what if someone else comes along and takes it? What were the odds if it was picked up by someone else?

He was growing quite distressed over this dilemma, as his claw was softly pressed upon his doll's soft plush.

Closing his eyes, with a heavy sigh, Baharius slowly leaves his grip upon the plushie. He turned to face the old man with a solemn expression. "I... I can't take this." he sadly replied with a lowered head, "Not yet. I do not currently have the means of which to store it safely... and I would hate to see it damaged under my tutelage." He slowly faces his plush counterpart, lowering to softly stroke it one last time. His lips slowly curled into a hopeful smile, his expression seeming to come to accepting the circumstance. Though among it... there was a glint of hope in his eye. "I will come back for you..." the saurian swore tearfully under his guttural breath, enough for the elderly to take note, "One day."

With that, Baharius rises and nods respectfully to the halfling. He almost asked for him to save it for him when he returns, although he'd admit it was a fairly selfish act. He might understand that wish... but neither would the old general want to state it aloud. They were only visiting after all. Granted, if anyone would stumble across here and take it for himself, he would have to accept his losses. If that's the unfortunate case, he would only hope then, that they would take good care of it. That they will treasure it and enjoy its company for generations to come. And who knows? Perhaps one day, they would come across the real Baharius and would be enamored by meeting their childhood friend in the flesh. The saurian imagined the smiles and laughs plastered upon not just the owner, but of all who would come across it, both young and old alike.

A single glistening tear dripped down his eye as he gave one last glance at the doll before facing the door.

That's when Vanta appeared to begin focusing his distress upon the establishment, erupting some sort of demonic eye that showed them the unfair treatment of people across the realm. Normally, this would be the point where Baharius would forcibly put a stop to these shenanigans by force... but here, there was a part of him that had a hunch as to why. And for that, he couldn't quite blame the odd shadow. He stomps over to him, looming over the shadow fae with his sheer bulk, before calmly putting his clawed hand upon his shoulder.

"That's enough..." Baharius stated calmly, giving a silentl look that expressed his understanding for his frustration. He wouldn't scold him for what he felt. He knew. But this was not the way to properly convey it. "Let us continue." Patting his shoulder, Baharius motioned for them to leave the establishment.

 

[gmimperfecti]

"That's enough..." Baharius stated calmly, giving a silentl look that expressed his understanding for his frustration. He wouldn't scold him for what he felt. He knew. But this was not the way to properly convey it. "Let us continue." Patting his shoulder, Baharius motioned for them to leave the establishment.

Vanta nodded. “As you wish.” With a wave of his wand one of Byatis’s blacker than black void eyes receded, Creation slowly healing itself. The air rippled over his head for several seconds after the eye itself was gone. Then that too was back to the normal heat shimmer brought on by the presence of too much of something instead of too little.

Vanta walked behind Beharius like a little duck might perfectly follow in the footsteps of its momma. There was a faint, genuine smile on his face for perhaps the first time since he’d reincarnated into the infinite still darkness of the deepest layers of the Labyrinth.

 

[saxon]

Kasumi Kagu
​

As the shadow fae spoke and used his ability the small creatures let out a shriek of fear as they all hurriedly closed their stalls with the others running away and locking the doors to their homes. Kasumi turned around to see what was going on to see the eye for a moment before Baharius told him there wasn't a point and it went away almost as fast as it had appeared.

"Uh, I guess they don't like magic?" Kasumi inquired as the place looked abandoned now with no one on the street even the old man had disappeared with the rest of them. Looking around for a moment she didn't hear anything out of the ordinary and turned back on her heel and walked towards the center of the village. "I'm surprised you didn't buy that plushie Baharius, you seemed to be looking at it for a moment," Kasumi stated as they reached the dungeon stairs leading to the third floor.

She didn't see anything stopping them from going straight down, though the challenge from this floor could have been to find the village itself. Though that did seem a little too easy in her mind. But, maybe some people didn't have the greatest of luck perhaps. As the group descended down the stairs, they were once again assaulted by the heat only this time it was more intense.

As they reached the bottom, they were met with a stone bridge over a chasm of lava that led to a small island in the center though on that island a giant thing of iron was striking hot metal of some kind on an anvil. "Ugh, why did it have to be hotter," Kasumi sighed as she then noticed the sparks flying.

The only way forward was to approach the thing whatever it was though in her mind it looked like a blacksmith in her mind. Feeling fairly confident she could get away it things turned dicey she approached the island that was when the iron thing stopped hammering the metal and placed it off to the side.

"Challengers, you approach, I am the guardian of the third floor if you wish to delve deeper you must first defeat me. Stirke while the Iron is hot, when you are ready draw your weapons." The metal golem spoke as he readied his hammer waiting for the group to be ready for this challenge.

"Well it looks like we have a good idea what burned that one adventurer," Kasumi pointed out as she check the map and saw the previous floor had been mapped out and that the third floor literally was only this one single room.

mentions: Develius gmimperfecti

 

[gmimperfecti]

Vanta chewed on his lip, considering the situation. It was quite odd but no more odd than most things in the Labyrinth.

The only way forward was to approach the thing whatever it was though in her mind it looked like a blacksmith in her mind. Feeling fairly confident she could get away it things turned dicey she approached the island that was when the iron thing stopped hammering the metal and placed it off to the side.

"Challengers, you approach, I am the guardian of the third floor if you wish to delve deeper you must first defeat me. Stirke while the Iron is hot, when you are ready draw your weapons." The metal golem spoke as he readied his hammer waiting for the group to be ready for this challenge.

"Well it looks like we have a good idea what burned that one adventurer," Kasumi pointed out as she check the map and saw the previous floor had been mapped out and that the third floor literally was only this one single room.

Vanta shrugged. “Isn’t it a bit too far for a flaming wounded man to wander back through the desert, past the goblins, and only then collapse? How was he able to withdraw, yet we see no other signs of his passage.” Vanta shook his head and then raised both of his hands. He dipped his toe out of Baharius shadow and took another step closer. It was very hard for him to do this. He was quite shy and this brazen gesture made his head fuzzz and his heart pound. He kept his wand holstered and was curious to see if this provoked the guardian.

If it did not, then Vanta asked of it a question, “Guardian, it is said that those who guard do not attack those who do not attack first. We are not here to steal but to learn. We are seekers and scouters, would you allow us to palaver before any formal challenge involving our drawn weapons is made?“ He felt a huge amount of emotional comfort in deflecting attention upon himself by asking questions. Being so exposed was horrible.

Vanta scans the place, trying to get a better sense of the situation. A floating island held up by a stone bridge above a lake of lava was interesting and worth investigation. He could ask ten thousand questions and his hunger for answers would not be satisfied.

If possible, Vanta will ask more questions trying to understand the nature of the contest and what exactly would provoke the challenge.

Spoiler: actions

Vanta will use his Intelligence D and Arcana F coupled with his training at the Skill #School F; Labyrinth: The School of Loss (-35) to see if he can get any useful information before they decide what to do next. Especially because while the Guardian said they needed to draw there weapon, it’s possible they don’t need to actually attack to succeed.

 

[Develius]

---

Mentions:
| saxon (Kasumi Kagu) | gmimperfecti (Vanta) |
​

---

Baharius drooped his head solemnly over Kasumi's words. "I was." he stated lowly with a sigh, "I certainly was..." His tone shifted into a content gaze forward towards their next objective. "But that day... will not be today. Rest assured, I will return for it someday... maybe even ask the old man a few questions about it while I do."

Eventually, the trio made their way to the next flight of stairs and left the sandy confines of the second level. They were now about to be as far down as the previous adventurers have gone. Whatever was down here must be formidable. And anything else after it was, as far as they knew, uncharted territory. It would do them well to be wary at this point. Yet as they continued descending, Baharius would be met with another wave of extreme heat coursing through his skin. Yet unlike the dry stagnant desert heat from above, this was as if he was stepping into a literal furnace. The saurian couldn't help but wince as his scales locked tight in response. What blazing hell were they descending into this time?

Reaching the bottom, he would be met to a scene of fiery lava bubbling below the chasm. A long stone bridge connected with an island at the center, which had a giant of some kind hacking away at something as if it was a blacksmith of some sort. An ominous sense creeped up over Baharius as they approached; his hand firmly placed upon his blade's handle. He had the overwhelming feeling that they'd have to fight whatever this thing was. And sure enough, once they got to him, the entity introduced himself as the guardian of the third level. To gain passage to the levels below, they would have to defeat it in combat. He'd then hear Kasumi theorize that this was the thing responsible for the burns placed upon that other adventurer's body. He nodded in agreement. This hulking fiery brute seemed to surely fit the bill.

If they had to fight their way through this, then so be it.

But just as Baharius was about to ready his blade, Vanta swiftly emerged from his shadow and tried to wager peace with the entity. The saurian gave an intrigued glance at this surprising venture, heedfully watching both entities as he watched the event transpire.

 

[saxon]

Kasumi Kagu
​

Kasumi looked over at the other two as the shadow fae started to ask questions of the guardian. The guardian remained still where it was. "We probably are going to have to beat the guardian if we want to go on further. This is the third floor but I don't know if there is more to the floor after this or if the stairs to the next level will show up." Kasumi stated as she simply shrugged her shoulders. Crouching down she looked at the rock by looking it seemed fairly solid and probably not easy to break either.

"None shall pass so long as I stand here. When you are ready draw your weapons." The guardian responded as he set the hammer in his hand down and then went back to waiting for the group to decide what to do. The room was quite warm with the Lava below and the only light was from the glowing red molten rock. Looking up at the shadow fae Kasumi figured there was only one way forward and it seemed like they were going to need to fight to move further on.

As Vanta scanned he would find nothing more than what was in front of him at the moment, the golem and the island of rock above a sea of lava. The only way forward seemed to be fighting the golem, as Baharius tightened his grip on his sword the guardian looked at him for a moment before waiting for the others to be ready.

Letting out a sigh Kasumi drew her daggers as well, "Well it looks like we won't have much of a choice in the matter it seems, well then shall we get to work?" She inquired asking the other two as she was ready to get away from the heat.

mentions: Develius gmimperfecti

 

[gmimperfecti]

Letting out a sigh Kasumi drew her daggers as well, "Well it looks like we won't have much of a choice in the matter it seems, well then shall we get to work?" She inquired asking the other two as she was ready to get away from the heat.

Vanta shrugs. “Most of the fights still end in killing, huh?” A bit disappointed as much that he found nothing to be gained by killing a construct as the fact that on balance the world worked how he’d been taught, Vanta took several steps backwards, flickering through the scant shadows cast by the bridge and the orange light of the lava. When he is 30 feet away from Bahrius, he sighed again, moving his hand towards his wand. “I guess it’s up to me to start this death match.”

He looked towards were Baharius and Kasumi were. They were more important than a worthless piece of shadow like himself. He judged the distance and kept backing up until he was exactly 100 feet from the golem.

“This is the least I can do for your generosity.” With that, he set about pulling the golem and attempting to kite it up the stairwell.

He took out his wand and started to cut away at reality, carving sigils into the air before him. Dark nothingness ate away at the fabric of reality, bleeding and seeping in a way that could almost fool someone into believing it was something rather than nothing.

Blacker than black tentacles darted out from distant shadows, wrapping around the legs of the giant golden long enough to stop it from building up momentum, pulling it back towards its own shadows and the hungry darkness within but alas it is only shadow and darkness which eventually dissipates.

Spoiler: Ooc spell

Vanta begins combat at the maximum range of his longest range spell. He will go first to draw the golems attention and then if needed use Fast F to flee back giving his companions the opportunity to attack golem will its attention Is on him.


Black Tentacles from Beyond the Pale -
Damage plus Tangle, Effectiveness 6.
Grade F (flux), Effectiveness 6, Cooldown 1. #Magic E -> F, #Tangle F (Duration 1, 1 Action), #MagicSchool F (Affinity Darkness; Range F -> E 100ft away, up to 5 targets).

Grade E Cooldown, 1 round.

 

[Develius]

---

Mentions:
| saxon (Kasumi Kagu) | gmimperfecti (Vanta) |
​

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"So be it." Baharius boomed in response to Kasumi's call to battle as he unsheathed his massive great sword to lay bare before the golem. "If it's a fight you want," he called towards his opponent in a hardened yet respectful manner, "Then one you shall receive." His blade, Her daggers, and His wand versus Its Colossal Hammer. Three against one. While it seemed as if it was shaping up to be a rather one-sided fight, he felt they shouldn't underestimate the lone forge master. If this guardian still stood stalwart after all this time, then much power would he yield at his disposal.

The saurian's glare tensed as he prepared to engage, ready to charge in as the resident bruiser. Yet Vanta would be the one to draw the first strike, as his scepter ripped into reality to unleash a spew of ink-black tentacles to restrain the opponent. Taking that opening stager as their cue, Baharius unleashed a Bestial Roar battle cry as he charged towards his opponent with his blade outstretched. Once getting close, the saurian proceeded to open his attack with a Lunging Pierce at its midriff.

Spoiler: Abilities

• Bestial Roar - [Intimidation E] - [E] - COOLDOWN +1 - Baharius unleashes a powerful roar in an attempt to intimidate any who dare face him.
• Lunging Pierce - [Savage DuneLord F, Accurate F] - [F] - COOLDOWN 0 - Baharius attacks targets with a lunging leap and striking forward at them while opening up his defenses close to his body.

 

[saxon]

Kasumi Kagu
​

Kasumi figured that Baharius would be the first one to draw blood however in this instance it was Vanta. As the man reached into the void or whatever plane the man reached into and summoned the tendrals they went towards the large iron golem that they were now about to fight. The tendrals hit their mark as they latched onto the golem for only a second before they disappeared.

"Looks like that golem has nullify!" Kasumi called out to the group as the golem started to rush forward to chase after Vanta. If the shadow fae's goal was to take the agro from the creature he had succeeded. The golem was focused solely on him as he started to move slowly at first and picked up speed.

The golem wouldn't get too far as the roar from the Surian echoed in the cavern causing a few stalactites to fall from the ceiling and into the lava. The cavern ceiling for the most part seemed to be unstable and prone to things breaking off from loud sounds. As the Surian lunged toward the golem slamming into the golem however the golem returned in kind swinging his hammer at the lizard knocking the lizard into the air.

Kasumi watched with her mouth wide open as the lizard was effortlessly lifted into the air. "Well this is going to be fun it seems." Kasumi stated as she moved in to attack the golem herself now. Going for one of the legs of the golem and using her Thieves flash as her dagger made a ting sound as her blades echoed off the golem as more rocks from the ceiling fell from the ceiling as the path behind them had now crumbled leaving the three on the central island with the golem.

Spoiler: abilities/cooldowns

Hammer Down - Forgotten Forge Style [Hammer] ? (knockback ?), Superstrength ? - The forgemaster swings his giant metal hammer at a target sending them back 20 ft.

• Thieves Flash - Fighting Style Daggers E, Adrasian Style E, Flexible F, Flare F (Sight) - Kasumi strikes a target blinding them with her attack for 1 post and must be within melee range. - Grade E - 1 post

mentions: Develius gmimperfecti

 

[gmimperfecti]

“Hmm,” Vanta said, tapping his lips and thinking about what do with the attention now shifted to Baharius and his spell Nullified.

Waiting and watching was about all he could do. So Vanta got closer to the golem until he was 30 feet away.

He quickly cast his Appraisal F magics, spreading out a slurry of tiny blue eyes with each stroke of his wand.

 

[Develius]

---

Mentions:
| saxon (Kasumi Kagu) | gmimperfecti (Vanta) |
​

---

As the lumbering saurian lunged at the golem, the next thing he found was the sudden crushing might of a well-placed swing of the hammer hitting against his chest. Baharius felt all the air escape his lungs in a raspy wheeze, before seeing himself launched straight back while barreling through the air in a guttural howl. Both of his wide eyes were blank in a long, blank stare, as if he was contemplating on what just happened within the span of several seconds. It wasn't an easy task to lift a several hundred pound saurian like himself off the ground; but to do so with as little as a simple swing was a wholly unexpected venture. The saurian crashed onto the hard floor, skidding across the ground for a considerable distance before slowly propping back on his feet.

"Ugh..." Baharius groaned as he dusted himself off, "That's smarts..."

This golem had already proven himself to be a powerful foe with his quick display of overwhelming strength. Shouldn't be too surprising given it was a considerably taller golem, but nonetheless had it not been for his chestpiece, he'd felt like his sternum would've collapsed into his chest cavity. And this was already coming from a heavily built warrior like himself! Nonetheless, he gave a toothy grin as he brought himself back into the fight. He'd hear Kasumi echo his own thoughts as she began her assault on the golem, quickly proceeding to blind the golem. All the while, Baharius also noted the falling rock and debris descending upon the battlefield. One exceptionally large boulder would crash against the bridge behind them, now isolating the fight onto a central island.

He grinned as a bellowing laugh escaped his massive gullet.

Oh yeah. He knew they got themselves a good fight on their hands.

Taking advantage of the opening, Baharius charged towards the golem once more; his blade poised and ready for another strike. This time, however, Baharius would strike out with his large paddle-like tail to perform a powerful Tail-Whip [Super Strength E] towards the golem's side, hopefully causing his opponent to trip or stumble before taking the opportunity to strike at its closest leg with his great-sword.

Spoiler: Abilities

• Tail Whip - [Talk to the Tail E, Knockback F, Area F] - [E] - COOLDOWN +1 - Baharius whips his tail in a wide area - up to 360° - to knock back any nearby opponents.
• Bestial Roar - [Intimidation E] - [E] - COOLDOWN +0 [Ready]

 

[saxon]

Kasumi Kagu
​

As Vanta used his appraisal skill as the image came up to him, there was only one thing that he could read as the rest of the information was ???. He saw intimidation F, outside of that he saw the golem was called a forge master. Though nothing else could be determined from his appraisal. Meanwhile, the golem was focused on Baharius at the moment and didn't really pay much mind to the magic user.

Kasumi looked up as the golem seemed unaffected by the blind; rolling her eyes she tried to figured out what she was going to do next. So far it didn't look like anything had worked and she thought it was strange that this room seemed so unstable compared to the others. Moving back as she decided the best course of action, for the time being, was to try and study the creature as sound seemed to be amplified in this room.

That was when Baharius charged forward, as the lizard swung his tail around there was a loud cracking sound as more debris from the ceiling. While the golem didn't stumble, it did shift a bit as the sword hit the golem's leg there was a small crack that was created from the impact. However what happened next was not expected at all, as the hammer on the golem started to glow and black tentacles shot out towards Baharius.

Spoiler: abilities/cooldowns

Hammer Down - Forgotten Forge Style [Hammer] ? (knockback ?), Superstrength ? - The forgemaster swings his giant metal hammer at a target sending them back 20 ft.

• Thieves Flash - Fighting Style Daggers E, Adrasian Style E, Flexible F, Flare F (Sight) - Kasumi strikes a target blinding them with her attack for 1 post and must be within melee range. - Grade E - 1 post 1/1
• Black Tentacles from Beyond the Pale -
  Damage plus Tangle, Effectiveness 6.
  Grade F (flux), Effectiveness 6, Cooldown 1. #Magic E -> F, #Tangle F (Duration 1, 1 Action), #MagicSchool F (Affinity Darkness; Range F

mentions: Develius gmimperfecti

 

[Develius]

---

Mentions:
| saxon (Kasumi Kagu) | gmimperfecti (Vanta) |
​

---

As Baharius prepared to strike at the golem once more, he'd reel back by the sudden rupture of black tentacles jetting from its massive hammer! "WHAT THE~?!" he growled as he began viciously slashing away at the tendrils with his great blade. Despite lobbing most of them, one of them would grapple his right arm, to what he believed was to pull his massive bulk closer to the opponent! The saurian hissed while he jerked his forearm forth. Yet when he believed it wasn't working, Baharius immediately went to bite the tendril off him. No doubt what he tasted was of immediate regret and of vile ink and ichor, but desperate times allow for desperate measures. So long as it wasn't toxic enough to kill him, it was worth the risk.

What more could that vile hammer do? Part of him didn't want to know... but could he possibly wield it? Not very well he assumed - his resume currently binds him with his blade - and no doubt did it look very heavy to wield; though he believed he could give it a good swing if he got his claws on it. An idea sprung to his head, as he called out to the others.

"Separate him from his hammer!" he bellowed, gripping his great sword as he lunged forth at one of the golem's arms, "It looks unstable! Don't wanna find out what other dark magic it can do!"

Spoiler: Abilities

• Tail Whip - [Talk to the Tail E, Knockback F, Area F] - [E] - COOLDOWN +0 [Ready]

 

[gmimperfecti]

Vanta was naturally filled with suspicion. There was something odd with the golem. Like a fire, it drew ones attention. From the first moment until this one, it drew ones attention. Even that hammer attracted and consumed everything they threw at it. There was something not seen here and it didn’t have anything to do with the golem. Vanta peered around the room, looking for something out of the corner of his eye. Something hidden or half seen.

Moving back as she decided the best course of action, for the time being, was to try and study the creature as sound seemed to be amplified in this room.

That was when Baharius charged forward, as the lizard swung his tail around there was a loud cracking sound as more debris from the ceiling. While the golem didn't stumble, it did shift a bit as the sword hit the golem's leg there was a small crack that was created from the impact. However what happened next was not expected at all, as the hammer on the golem started to glow and black tentacles shot out towards Baharius.

The black tentacles were the same spell that he’d casted at the Golem, now made manifest on Baharius. Even the special attack from Kasumi had disappeared. “Hmm,” Vanta said, frowning. He raised his wand to try and counter spell, but Baharius dove right in.

Yet when he believed it wasn't working, Baharius immediately went to bite the tendril off him. No doubt what he tasted was of immediate regret and of vile ink and ichor, but desperate times allow for desperate measures. So long as it wasn't toxic enough to kill him, it was worth the risk.

The Black Tentacles came from the denizens of the void and embodied the nature of nothingness, to be caught and drawn towards the ending that was the beginning before all things. He’s never seen anyone try to eat one of them. “I…” Vanta started and then closed his mouth, watching.

"Separate him from his hammer!" he bellowed, gripping his great sword as he lunged forth at one of the golem's arms, "It looks unstable! Don't wanna find out what other dark magic it can do!"

”I…” Vanta frowned again, struggling to follow along but unable to resist the will of Baharius. Removing his wand, Vanta tore through creation, carving with darkness upon the fabric of the world. With each stroke, the darkness beneath the golem solidified. Like broken flows of ice sailing out to sea, darkness sprouted up around the golem, ensnaring it. Like melted ice flowing in reverse, liquid darkness trails up it’s body spreading into countless black tributaries like the veins of an unseen creature. Unless these veins are broken and it flees the area, they are bound, held fast by eerie pulsing black veins of darkness.

Spoiler: ooc

• Inevitable Flows the Darkness - Grade E, Effectiveness 7, Cooldown 1. #Magic E, #Fast F, #Tangle F (Duration 1, 1 Action), #MagicSchool F (Affinity Darkness, Range 30ft, 5 targets).
• Appraise the ceiling.
• Use Arcana F to figure out what’s going on here.

 

[saxon]

Kasumi Kagu
​

Kasumi watched as the tentacles shot out from the hammer and wrapped around Baharius. Though they didn't last very long as the giant lizard ripped into the tentacles freeing himself. When he called out to separate the hammer from the golem, Kasumi nodded. She watched as the Baharius lunged towards the golem, trying to dislodge the hammer, his strike knocked the golem back a few steps and there was now a crack in the arm holding the hammer. Though the Golem still had the hammer.

As Vanta looked at the ceiling, he noticed this room was particularly unstable as sounds were amplified throughout the room. The ceiling falling apart from earlier strikes made that evidently clear but other than that there didn't seem to be anything of note about the ceiling. As the golem went to take a step tenticles came up from the group and snared the goelm forcing it down to one knee.

The golem swung back at Baharius making contact with the lizard though the force itself wasn't enough to knock him back. However, there was a nice dent in the armor which was affected its effectiveness of the armor. Kausmi used her stealth and slipped into the shadows waiting or an opening to strike.


notes: Baharius' Armor E => F

Spoiler: abilities/cooldowns

• Stealth - Undetected E (Sight, Smell), Stealth E,- The nature of her trade had taught her to hide in plain sight from those around her and to move. She becomes harder to notice by sight and blends into the shadows. The skill is effective 1 post variable depending on combat and exploration. - Grade E - 1 Post Cooldown

mentions: Develius gmimperfecti

 

[gmimperfecti]

Baharius lunged towards the golem, trying to dislodge the hammer, his strike knocked the golem back a few steps and there was now a crack in the arm holding the hammer.

Vanta had been waiting for Baharius, eager to see if this combination of attacks were less likely to be nullified or countered. He felt a small kernel of excitement build in him at the prospect. Perhaps the straightforward approach was the better one. His more powerful spells were exhausted for the next several seconds, but seeing his opponent start to fall into debt, Vanta didn't want to waste the opportunity.

Trusting, which was a strange concept to him, perhaps it was more like expecting a certain inevitable reciprocity, that Baharius would continue his assault, Vanta used opportunity presented to zip and flitter through the shadows, moving at incredible speeds around the pair locked in combat and then when the moment was ripe, Vanta dashed forward.

Using Baharius as the tip of the spear, the aggressive back and forth for the one thing that seemed to matter, the Hammer, Vanta shot forward whipping his wand through the fabric of creation, tearing a series of rapid neat holes that looked like blacker than black sigils or smoke moving like a small boat on rocky waves. Creation was odd at the intersection of powerful sentient beings.

Shadows stretch out from all around Vanta, linking and binding the shadows around the Golem's arm. Each time they are broken, more come, wrapping and pulling and distracting the Golem's attempt sot use his Hammer Arm.

With the proper opening Vanta beacons the Dweller in Darkness to reach out and draw the Golem's arm deeper into the darkness. The touch is cold and deathly arising from the nearby darkness, reaching out to grasp and rip at the open cracks in the Golem's arm.

Spoiler: ooc actions

Vanta moves close, waits for Baharius to distract and tank another blow, and then will do a Team-up Combo with the group, which gets my Effectiveness to 7 damage towards the Golem's hammer arm plus another Tangle 1 around the Golem's hammer arm. Since we are all on cool downs this round, with Teamup we should still be able to hit Effectiveness 9-10 with stacking debuffs like Tangle, Beharius shout stagger, and Kasumi's sneak attack.

• Shadow Steps - Speed F to move 30'
• Shadow Rejects the Steps of Others - Grade F, Effectiveness 6, Cooldown 0* multi-cast.#Magic F (self, immediate area, 5’ AOE), #Tangle F (Duration 1, 1 Action), (Affinity F Darkness), #Energize F.
  • Shadows stretch out from all around Vanta, linking and binding the shadows who are much too close. Shadow’s nature will reconnect when called upon, each time the shadows are broken more lunge out so long as Vanta wills it.
• The Darkness of the Dweller’s Caress - Grade F, Effectiveness 6, Cooldown 0* multi-cast; #Magic F (self, Range 5’, 1 target), #Tangle F (Duration 1, 1 Action), #MagicSchool G (Affinity Darkness), #Energize F.
  • Vanta beacons the Dweller in Darkness to reach out and draw his target deeper into the darkness. The touch is cold and deathly arising from the nearby darkness, reaching out to grasp and rip.

 

[Develius]

---

Mentions:
| saxon (Kasumi Kagu) | gmimperfecti (Vanta) |
Debuff:
Bronze Armor E ---> F
​

---

Baharius landed a heavy blow upon the hulking golem's arm, sending it reeling back a few steps as it left a significant crack in its arm. Unsurprisingly, the hammer would still be firmly in its grasp; though he knew it wasn't going to be that easy. To him their best bet was either to chip through it bit by bit till they could sever the arm fully or otherwise find an alternate means of disarming him. Both would be tricky, but he found it to be their only options. At worst, one would simply take longer to accomplish. As the saurian prepared to engage again, the black tentacles burst right under the hulking entity and forced it to its knee!

Good! That ought to keep it steady.

Though as the saurian got close for a swing, the golem would be the first to strike; its hammer striking at the height of Baharius' swing! The blow struck Baharius' armor with an audible clang, following by a raspy exhale from his toothy maw. He definitely felt the impact dent through his already battered armor, but the saurian continued holding his ground.

"Not bad..." Baharius growled with a toothy smirk, "But those strikes are getting sloppy! Where's that PUNCH to em?"

The Saurian warrior clashed his blade behind him, sending a volley of sparks behind him, before dragging it forward and initiating another powerful upward strike towards the crack in the hammer arm! Though it was about this time that Vanta took advantage of the situation, casting several ominous voids in what seemed to be perhaps weakening the arm in question. The arms would emerge and attempt to further damage the appendage, with their cold dark essence seeping into it. Baharius barely noticed the effect as he continued his relentless assault, quickly raising his blade and slamming it down on the damaged limb!

 

[saxon]

Kasumi Kagu
​

Kasumi moved around to the back of the golem waiting for the time to strike out at the golem. Though she hadn't fought anything like this before which made her curious about the golem. After all the creature had spoken to the group which meant it was intelligent to an extent. But the golem hadn't spoken since that before the fight started. Shaking the thought from her mind as Baharius spoke up about the weak attack from the golem now that it was tangled.

As Baharius lunged forward Kasumi went to strike at the golem's leg with her daggers and as Vanta unleashed the attack he had waiting for the team up to happen the Golem's arm was separated from its body. The golem moved for a split second before it crumbled to the ground in a pile of rocks and so did the large hammer that was on the ground a second before.

As Kasumi emerged, she looked confused looking around, "Wait what? Seriously the hammer was the weak point? The thing literally fell apart after the hammer was separated from the body!?" Kasumi shouted annoyed that something so stupid was possible. Looking at the others she let out a sigh as the room shook for a second as another bridge came out of the lava and a passage opened up when the new bridge was set in place.

Looking at the group she put her daggers away, "Well I think that is the way to level four, though I think once we get the map updated, we should make the trip back. If there are more of those golems around I don't think we want to stick around and fight them again." Kasumi suggested as she started to walk towards the new passage that had opened itself with the death of the golem.

The group would once again be met with the same stone passage that sent them down further into the dungeon. Once they reached the bottom of the stairs they stepped into the light at the end to see this floor was a forest. Though there was something strange about the place, the group would notice that everything seemed at peace here. There was no sense of danger. It was inviting which was strange compared to the other floors there wasn't this sense of peace.


notes: Baharius' Armor E => F, Should be 1 more round after this to wrap everything up!

Spoiler: abilities/cooldowns/Actions

• Stealth - Undetected E (Sight, Smell), Stealth E,- The nature of her trade had taught her to hide in plain sight from those around her and to move. She becomes harder to notice by sight and blends into the shadows. The skill is effective 1 post variable depending on combat and exploration. - Grade E - 1 Post Cooldown 1/1

1. Moved to the back of the golem
2. Attack Golem with her daggers
3. N/A

mentions: Develius gmimperfecti

 

[gmimperfecti]

Peace was anathema to him as it implied a settling of accounts, which meant the concentration gradient no longer had an imbalance, there was no longer anything to struggle against, there was just the White. Vanta shivered and walked closer in Baharius shadow. "I hate this place."

 

[Develius]

---

Mentions:
| saxon (Kasumi Kagu) | gmimperfecti (Vanta) |
Debuff:
Bronze Armor F
​

---

Alongside Baharius' strike, both Vanta and Kasumi would emerge from the shadows to launch their own counteroffensive upon the golem! Their hits all collided upon the hulking mass' hammer arm, severing it and leaving it vulnerable to the mercy of the fighters...!

Which is what the saurian thought was going to happen. Alas, the Golem simply crumbled into a pile of rock and debris right in front of them, ending the fight as abruptly as it began. Baharius released a hiss of disappointment just as Kasumi angrily addressed the idiocy of the golem's weak point. It was certainly a very anti-climatic ending for sure, but nonetheless the threat had now been neutralized.

"I was expecting more of a challenge." Baharius grumbled reservedly as he wiped away the rock and dust from his great blade, "Though if there's more floors to this dungeon, I suspect this mere golem is simple fodder compared to what lies beneath."

He then took a moment to inspect his battered armor, feeling at the dents and cracks that now stained it. It was going to cost him a pretty coin to get it fixed up, but he knew full well the limits of bronze. It served him well in the fights of his homeland, but here it's something he certainly needs to upgrade soon. Vanta would crawl over towards Baharius' shadow, muttering his disdain over this place.

"I've been through worse." the reptilian replied lowly while reminiscing about the prior conflict once more, "At least it's better than being lost in a foggy desolate swamp with all sorts of... unknown horrors."

With the entrance to level four now identified, the ninja recommended they leave for the surface once they updated their map of the next level. "Agreed." Baharius nodded, as he trodded behind Kasumi down the stone passageway. When they got to the bottom, he'd notice the vast lush of green forest covering the room; loosely reminding him of the steamy jungles back home. The saurian took a moment to take in the atmosphere, noting how peaceful the room was. No signs of unease or hostility to be seen, heard, felt, or taste. It was a welcoming feeling, something much needed after their intense conflict.

"What is this place...?" the saurian mumbled quietly as he trodded through at a leisurely pace.