Graded [Frontier] - Holy Draconis

[Novama]

Mentions: NeramoDJI Roffles _Yang
OOC: Preferably, you'll post like you have already met up and settled on a goal as a group. If you want to rp out the meeting and aligning of missions and any awkwardness that may result instead, be my guest.

Intro​

This chapter in Isekai Hell will chronicle the meet up between Kozel, Zeke, and Gamatsu and the discovery of an ancient temple ruin in the hill country of eastern Ryke. The story will take place during the winter months of Ryke which will be chilly at best and freezing at worst. The slightly higher elevation may impact those not used to it and the area is known to house slightly stronger monsters than the forests and flatlands common to Ryke. The area is not significantly populated, but the hills do act as a border between Ryke and the Empire to the east, so there is some foot traffic possible. These out of the way places in the world tend to have higher concentrations of mana in them and these hills are no exception. Known as the Glattzdan Hills, they stretch the eastern border of Ryke up to the mountains in the north east. There are rumors of dungeons and particularly fierce monsters to be found within some of the nooks and crannies of these hills as well. Travelers beware of what ancient mysterious may lurk in this land.

The roleplay will start with Zeke and Kozel stepping out of a portal from who knows where around midday. They will immediately meet Gamatsu at that time who is on his way to a ruin temple as prompted by a vision he had. The chilly weather will encourage Zeke and Kozel to find shelter and what better shelter than the ruin Gamatsu is seeking. Who knows what the trio will find whether they wished for it or not.

 

[NeramoDJI]

Zeke "Mors" Valdain​

Current Theme

Zeke looked out over the landscape, not exactly bothered by the cold too much but not being particularly fond of it, due to his place of birth in this world. "Pray tell, where is this immensely colossal old ruin you were verbalizing about again?" He asked, using his more verbose vocabulary since it was what he used when making first impressions, enjoying using the more broad words in his book. "I don't relish subjecting myself to this nippy atmosphere for much longer. Better to establish an encampment or similar soon." He said, dusting off his hat a moment. He knew well of these mountains, and were a place he had considered putting his cabin before he learned about the heightened danger due to monsters around. He had not enjoyed this place being his exit point, but beggars could not be choosers, and who knew, maybe this ruin he was looking for would have something of value for him. At least, of more tangible value than some sandal.

"You holding up amiably Kozel? I understand you've not been exposed to this sort of climate before." He asked, preferring to leave out the fact they were just in heaven, though knowing his luck, his companion might just blurt that out in her quest to convert people to following fred the angel.

 

[_Yang]

Though covered by his cloak, a thin layer of snow started to form on top of Gamatsu's helmet. Barely bothered by the cold, he continued to march forward, reinvigorated by the company he was with. "This is the tale, of Captain Jack Sparrow! Pirate so brave, on the seve-" Whether or not they were fans, Gamatsu had to stop midway in his song to answer Zeke's question. "Hmm" He wasn't quite sure how he'd respond. He didn't have any clear facts to base his assumptions on; just vague memories that he was certain weren't his.

"My bad, bro. But I got no clue." He briefly hurried his steps, his feet a bit heavier than before as it imprinting on the snow-covered path even deeper than before. He made sure he was ahead of both Zeke and Kozel before turning around. Now facing the two, Gamatsu continued walking, but now backwards. He didn't want change the pace they were travelling at, but wanted to talk to look at them when they were conversing. "The village dudes just said that ya gotta head west to the ruins, that's where you're gonna find a dragon. Then I started heading west." Gamatsu didn't have pockets, but his hands were resting at the side of his hips, acting as if he did.

 

[Roffles]

Kozel blankly stared the the clear blue sky, caring little for the snow that gently fell across her face. She wasn't certain how long it had been since she last felt the cool comfort of winter. It just seemed like forever. Although now a party of three, with their armored acquaintance, Kozel had been silent ever since leaving the heavenly realm. It was a combination of finally embracing a second life, and partly from Fred no longer being with them.

Sighing heavily, Kozel continued to fondle the sandal that had been resting on her hands. The thought of stuffing it in her bag with the rest of her belongings didn't feel right. She was fortunate enough that she had something to remember Fred by and it felt disrespectful to treat it like any other item. Kozel's gaze slowly traced downwards to the sandal. She swore that she'd take care of it with her life. It was literally a holy artifact from the heavens. Anything less would be unacceptable.

Before she could mull over Fred, her sandal, or whatever Fred-related thoughts Kozel could come up with, Zeke had called her attention while Gamatsu started to ramble.

"Ah, yes. I'm adapting well enough." Tucking her hands into her cloak, Kozel hid the sandal from everyone else's view.

"So, you mentioned a dragon." Kozel had to try and distract herself. She was a Follower of Fred, not a crazed fanatic. She'll have the opportunity to study Fred's teachings later. "Would it be wise to head towards something like that? Aren't they dangerous?"

 

[NeramoDJI]

Zeke held no such sentimental look on the angel's sandal, seeing it more as a lesser valued treasure until he found out what it did. Until then, it was just something to keep hold of until he found it's purpose. When he heard the response, he sighed a little, looking around the area they found themselves in. "So, you know this place from your dreams was it?" He asked, deciding to tone down the vocabulary being used, seeing the casualness of his allies. "How long have you been traveling west for these ruins?" He asked, hoping it was a decent amount of time so he could have been there during a more closer period to their arrival to the ruins.

He glanced at her, seeing her put the sandal away before listening to what she said, nodding at her saying she was fine. "That's good then." He said, nodding slowly. He listened to her comments of a dragon, humming a little as he thought about it, before deciding to rationalize it. "Well, he wouldn't likely be goin to the place if it were something that'd end him. Natural survival instinct would probably kick in." He said, more trying to explain to himself why he was following some hunk of junk towards an abandoned ruin with a dragon in it.

However, he was in it now, so no option but to keep going from here then. "However, yes, I'd assume they're incredibly dangerous."

 

[Roffles]

"Well, he wouldn't likely be goin to the place if it were something that'd end him. Natural survival instinct would probably kick in."

Kozel wanted to agree with Zeke's statement, but after taking a second look at their armor-clad friend, she felt that he an exemption to the rule. He appeared strange, for a lack of a better word. It wasn't necessarily a bad thing, but it was different.

"However, yes, I'd assume they're incredibly dangerous." Kozel was relieved that she wasn't the only one who had the sentiment. However, she would have been lying if she said she wasn't curious. Encountering an actual dragon would make an amazing story. If they were lucky enough, dragons might have been non-hostile. Fred was far from Kozel's idea of an angel. Dragons could have been the same. They could be a pleasant surprise.

"Gamatsu." With her thoughts no longer lingering, Kozel was able to focus on the present. "It may sound rude, but you wouldn't happen to be deceiving us?" As tactless as she appeared, Kozel had no plans to beat around the bush. Although Gamatsu appeared friendly and laid-back, Kozel still found it wise to remain cautious.

 

[_Yang]

Between maintaining his backward walking and brushing off the snow from his shoulders, Gamatsu didn't really pay much attention to the two in front of him. It was a good thing he didn't have a face. Gamatsu's poker face would have been pathetic.

While one of his hands were busy ridding his body of snow, the other loosely grabbed on his bow staff that he rolled across his palm, functioning like some sort of fidget tool.

"Huh?" It took him a while, but he did eventually notice that Zeke and Kozel were actually talking to him.

"Uhm, yeah. A dragon. Sweet, right?" Gamatsu tried his best to respond appropriately, but he didn't. "Hope he's like, you know, large and in-charge. Like totally a boss." He bobbed his head as he spoke, trying to recall a tune that was stuck in his head. "Deceive? Yeah, totally would sucks if he wasn't. Got up early to meet him." Though only hearing bits and pieces, Gamatsu was able to indirectly answer Zeke and Kozel's questions. Well, sort of. "Uhm, or her." He was an airhead, Gamatsu wouldn't deny that, but he was surely not a sexist.

 

[NeramoDJI]

Zeke glanced towards the armor suit when he began to speak, raising an eyebrow at the obvious inattentiveness being shown by the armor. "If he were, I don't think he'd bother telling us." He said, glancing at Kozel before shrugging a bit. He didn't believe the armor was being deceitful, he knew a liars tone when he heard one, and this one sounded too stupid to be a liar. At least, too aloof. Liars kept careful ears out for their victims, this one wasn't listening either way.

"Well, should we arrive at this big temple then, what should we be doing then?" He asked, looking at Gam with a bit of a curious expression. "Or did you just dream about a dragon and decide you would come here with no real purpose." As he said it, he realized that was very much probably the most likely option there was for this particular scenario. Not that it brought him any joy to think that.

"In any case, hopefully these ruins are nearby, what little shelter they may give will be appreciated." He said, looking over the rolling hills around them. The scenery were quite beautiful when one looked around, if one didn't know about the horrendous dangers lying in wait, in the form of monsters and creatures. Who knew, maybe this dragon had some treasure it would part with for those who helped it's dream chosen or whatever make the journey.

In the meantime, he kept his eyes peeled for said ruins, a little pep in his step as he walked, trying to find this place as fast as possible for the potential loot within.

 

[Novama]

Time: 12:00pm
Weather: freezing, breezey, overcast
Mentions: NeramoDJI _Yang Roffles
OOC: sorry for delay. it is hard to find good help these days
TLDR: the party finds the ruin. a certain feeling entices them in.
Post Listenings:

Glattzdan Hills
​

Before the party knew it, ruins sprang into view among the hills ahead of them. As advertised, they were old, ruinous, and potentially ideal to hunker down while the weather was being particularly unpleasant. At the very least, give the party a chance to orient themselves and come up with a plan. No creatures were in sight other than the random bird. The wind suddenly tasted and smelled off like the air itself was old and stale like the ancient walls in had just brushed against. Despite the breeze, there wasn't any extra howl or whistle coming from the ruins. They were surprisingly large as the group drew closer. The steps leading up were a few feet apart meaning if the group tried climbing the stairs, they would have to take high steps or jump as their height demanded. Closer inspection would reveal carvings in the stonework that was severely faded with age and weathering. What peoples built this? Who used it? Where did they go? The ruin was nothing but questions and it was a bit ominous in appearance. All of that came to mind before recalling Gamatsu was planning to meet a dragon inside supposedly.

"...come..."

They all hear in their minds. Or did they. The thought was so small and quiet compared to their other thoughts. It was also particularly fleeting. It was easy to forget or assume it was imagined. Meanwhile, the ruin continued to loom before them. At the top of the stairs was a massive opening that led deeper inside. There were no doors blocking entry. Only tangles of dry and perhaps dead vegetation wrapped around some of the stonework. A feeling like what they felt from the whisper in their mind could be felt beckoning to the open archway into the ruin's central structure.

 

[NeramoDJI]

Zeke looked up at the ruins, taking his hat off slowly and running a hand through his hair. This was quite the sight. Even in his previous life, sights like this one were rare. Especially ones that had purpose, like this one seemed to. He looked at the front steps, slowly placing his foot upon it, taking lead of the group as he grinned to himself. "Well, looks like we're here then. So, where is this dragon you were ta-..." He cut himself off when he heard the voice in his head, a small cold sweat breaking out. His previous life flashed before his eyes, and one thing came to his mind. Imagined or not, when a dragon called, you answered. And with how he remembered his experience with dragon temper was, he'd not take the risk of believing it was imagined while it were real.

"Lets find this then..." He said, following the feeling pulling him to the archway, using his Environmental control to make a soft glow around himself, almost like that of Fred's heavenly glow, but softer and slightly twisted. He walked into the archway, looking around with his self made light, simply following that gentle pull he felt towards the inner way of the ruins, his cocky strut notably missing as he walked into the ruins. He had his hands to his side, walking with a purpose, every movement he made being rigid and tense.

 

[_Yang]

Lost for words, Gamatsu just let out a long whistle, obviously impressed at the sheer sight of the ruins. Despite its aged appearance, it stood wide and tall, easily towering their group of three.

His whistle was cut short by the whisper he heard in his head. Not apparently startled as he simply stood still, like an empty suit of armor that wasn't sentient, Gamatsu felt a longing deep within him. Wherever he was, his got was telling him that he was at the right place.

Snapping back to his senses, Gamatsu soon followed Zeke's lead, impressed at his ability to emit what looked like a thin luminescent veil around his body.

"Neat trick you got there, Z." Gamatsu's tone had an hint of awe in it. He probably would've been more expressive if he wasn't preoccupied by the growing foliage along their path. "I wish I could do somethat cool." He muttered while sweeping and pushing the overgrown plants to the side with his staff.

As he continued to advance, Gamatsu turned briefly at Kozel, calling her attention. "Yo, Koz. You good?"

 

[Roffles]

After her question on Gamatsu's intentions, Kozel simply nodded at Zeke and mostly kept to herself as the searched for the ruins, but watched the living armor. She remained cautious, assuming that Gamatsu was something that does instead of says. Kozel was not aware of how Living Armors were seen in this new world. Although with the title of Monster, he had yet shown any signs of hostility. For now, that was enough.

The effect the whisper had on Kozel wasn't as meaningful as compared to Zeke and Gamatsu. She wasn't stuck in a daze nor did she have any memories that resurfaced. It was like hearing some leaves rustling in the wind.

After their time in the Heavenly Realm, Kozel wondered what the ruins could present them with. The idea of a dragon was interesting, but Kozel hoped for more. Personally, her eyes were drawn to the carvings along the ruin walls. It told a story that she couldn't interpret. Her curiosity was definitely piqued.

While Gamatsu and Zeke moved forward, Kozel trailed behind, walking closer to the walls. Dragging her fingers along the walls, she tried to make out what the carvings were, appraising them for any useful information. Unsurprisingly, she got nothing.

"Ah, yes." Kozel spoke sternly, ignoring any concern that was in Gamatsu's words. Whatever curiosity she had, Kozel had to put in on hold. Increasing her pace, her strides becoming longer, she caught up with the two and prepared herself for whatever the ruins had in store for them.

 

[Novama]

Time: 12:10pm
Weather: freezing, breezey, overcast
Mentions: NeramoDJI _Yang Roffles
OOC: see if we can get in a rhythm
TLDR: the party enters the ruins and finds cloaked dudes. What do they do?
Post Listenings:

Glattzdan Hills - Temple Ruins

​

The party, despite hustling to get out of the weather, still took a bit of time getting up to the ruin and hopping the stairs. The steps were unevenly worn, showing signs of particular wear on either side of center. At the top of the stairs, the doorway into the ruin was about 20 feet tall. They immediately could feel the vastness of the space within the ruin as they entered. The wind now stifled do a degree, they could hear something other than it in their ears. What they heard was the many footsteps and whispered conversations of a multitude of robed individuals roaming the massive halls and chambers. Just in the entrance, the party had a split second to decide how they would respond to the situation. They could either duck for cover and attempt to remain hidden from the strangers, they could remain in plain sight and see how the robed individuals appreciated people not in the turtle club, or they could option C and sort things out in their own special way. The closest group of robed fellows were two individuals walking through the corridor they were in from one chamber to another.

For more context, the party stood in a long hallway that led to a presumably massive room. Along the hallway were many other 20 foot high doorways. Some led into adjoining halls. Others led into rooms. Some doors were shut and they seemed a bit to heavy to move by normal means. The cloaked strangers roaming the space were at least a few dozen in number based on what was visible and the echoes of voices coming from further in. No one was close enough to use appraisal on the men actively walking past.

 

[NeramoDJI]

Zeke assumed the sides were what people often used to walk, or perhaps that is simply where the dragons who he assumed inhabited this place before saw their steps falling. He slowly looked up to the arch as he finished his climb, before spotting those who were there, quickly shutting off his light source to keep their stealth going, ducking down a step. "Not sure if this lot is friend of our host, but either way we don't know particularly if they are friend or foe." He whispered, looking back to his party. "How's your fighting skills? Not saying we'll need to, but it's better to have em than not." He said, trying to formulate some kind of plan.

He tried to listen in on the conversation meanwhile, staying close to the edge to try and listen to them, not liking the look of things, mainly because cultists like these were usually against folks like him, especially since he was usually after some kind of artefact from them. Still was the case this time, only he didn't come here just for that this time. Who knew if they were holding the dragon, which was why the dragon called for aid or something, though if they were, that held it's own slew of problems. "Your thoughts lads?"

 

[_Yang]

If Gamatsu could squint, he would. He found the gathering they saw from afar strange to say the least.

"What a bunch of weirdos." He whispered, wondering why anyone would choose to gather in some ruins in the middle of nowhere. Arguably, the same could've been said about their own group.

"Yeah? I guess they're, uh, looking...for a dragon too?" That was the only conclusion he was able to come up with at the moment, but even so, he couldn't shake the ominous feeling they were giving off.

"Yeah, man. Beats me." Gamatsu shrugged his shoulders. He was just as unsure as Zeke was. "But if things get messy, I got your backs. Been itching to shoot something." Seeing Gamatsu giving them a thumbs up wasn't the most reliable image, but at this point, Zeke and Kozel didn't have that many options to choose from.

 

[Roffles]

Stealth wasn't Kozel's strong point but given the situation they were in, she had no choice. Following Zeke's lead, Kozel crouched down and lowered her body. "I highly doubt that they're friendly." Their appearance, and the aura that they were giving off weren't exactly what Kozel would call approachable.

Clenching her fists, she readied herself for the worst. "Honestly, I don't know." There was doubt in her voice as she answered Zeke. Kozel was basically a newborn in this world and had zero experience when it came to fighting. Her last attempted to engage in combat ended with her death. However, unlike her life as Maggie, as Kozel, she felt more confident in her capabilities. Nervousness and anxiety were still there, but they were no longer crippling. It was as if she didn't feel that much fear anymore.

"Avoiding them may be the safest choice, but if we plan to explore the ruins, we'll eventually run into them again." She wasn't completely against Gamatsu's inclination to confront them if needed, but for now, Kozel preferred to opt for an approach that involved less violence. "Maybe we could get closer and try to listen in on their conversation."

 

[Sisyphus Happy]

Cavernous and grand, these ruins stretched deep into the mountains, shadowy and worn. Carved into hundreds of surfaces, relief of unknown figures; gods and heroes, kings, soldiers, beasts, and regular patterns. Inside were more of the same in pocked, aged stone. Many of the reliefs were cracked and much of the detail, sanded down by time. Liu's eyes were magnetically attracted to the lines, the design of the architecture, swept through all of the divets communicating hair and gouges suggesting eyes. Gentle tapping echoed throughout a hall off of the main path. In his hands, a canvas with sallow blooms of water damage across its surface and the dusty white threads of a fungal growth crawling across the bottom right. A tall, lithe form clothed in a tight-fitting black garb sauntered carefully among fallen columns and piles of rubble, its smooth head rhythmically peering up at the lofty architecture and then back down at the canvas, a dry and cracked, ancient looking paintbrush in its fingers.



With careful steps, it glanced between the canvas and its surroundings. Passing by a shaft of moonlight threaded through a collapsed section of roof, behind a boulder, once a piece of the ceiling, brought low by time. "Tap, tap, tap," the figure nodded sharply, glancing at the floor and up, all around. Now back into the main hallway, it looked up from the expanse of canvas and to the left, where a void of shadow mostly obscured whatever would be further into the ruins. Then it looked to the right where, unexpectedly, a wall of humanoid shapes loomed no more than 30 feet away. Liu's mouth fell open. They looked ominous. But that could merely be his earthly cultural sensibilities. Perhaps skulls and an absence of moisturizer was auspicious in this world. Already he has seen such a variety of creatures unlike anything he has any recollection of, perhaps they are completely benign. No, definitely, there was something ominous about their robes. Well, it could just be that he had wondered into a temple -- merely in a state of disrepair. Or a holy site. It would be unusual for it to be neglected in such a way.

His mind wandered in such circles for a moment too long and he easily fell back into sensible protocol. A kind greeting! From the space of his mouth, though he lacked the organs to make sound in the way that living beings do, a voice nonetheless emanated from the fleshless skull crowning a 6'7'' skeleton. Its bony arm came across its chest and by instinct offered a distinctly elvish greeting. It is a shame that he had no flesh; he went out of his way to make his disembodied voice emanate in a warm way, and though ineffable in mien and dry of timbre, his voice was like a warm wind, "greetings honorable strangers, how gratuitious is this meeting? My name is Aef," he paused, his head turning minutely to the side. It was a slip of the tongue accompanied by a strange feeling in his skull. He continued nonetheless.

"I am a humble map maker. I do apologize if I have encroached on your masterfully constructed and splendid holy place," he apologized carefully, bowing his head and shoulders gently, although it did little to diminish his towering height, "please forgive me." His vacuous sockets trailed along the crowd where he could see it stretching back, and back. Luckily, he had no skin to sweat.

 

[Novama]

Time: 12:20 pm
Weather: freezing, breezey, overcast
Mentions: NeramoDJI _Yang Roffles Sisyphus Happy
OOC: say when you can post next or need a nova post
TLDR: while the party cowers in the cold, Liu says hey to stranger dangers and has regrets
Post Listenings:

Glattzdan Hills - Temple Ruins

​

Chilling on the stairs into the temple to avoid being seen, the party was able to safely spectate from a distance the pair of robed men passing through the hallway. Deeper in, they noticed the sudden appearence of Liu also. The ambient light was just enough to make out the exchange although the wind in their ears made it too difficult what was being said.

On Liu's side, the exchange was short and forcefully ended. Several of the men looked to Liu with puzzled or horrified looks. Rather than a return greeting, Liu heard things like "Undead" and "Monster". Taking up their staves, many of the men began to chant in an unknown language. A palpable amount of mana flowed in the general vicinity that a draft was created in the hall followed by a sudden burst of heat and light. Anyone wishing not to be scorched to dust would think to leave the area immediately.

Outside, the party would note a dazzling light display and sudden burst of heat and sound flowing from down the hall. They would also better make out the skeletal visage of Liu among the spectacle. If circumstances were different, they may have enjoyed the sudden warmth as it did feel cozy. The smell was a bit musty and off putting compared to a traditional wood flame though.

 

[NeramoDJI]

"Alright, it does not look like they're friends." He said, watching the sudden burst of light, before realizing something. "C'mon lads, if there's a time to go it's now, they're distracted with that skeletal fellow!" He whisper shouted, diving over the front steps and moving towards the wall near the arch, figuring if the robed figures were distracted now was the time to act, gesturing for his allies to follow him as he stepped up against the arch, looking in before moving away from it, trying to move to the nearest hole in the ruin he could find to get inside. He had a decent speed to himself, thinking the group of hooded figures would rather focus on whoever they had used that lightshow on. He waited for the flames to pass and dissipate before he slipped into the hole.

He continued through, moving along the, thinking if he could get into a wider area, there would be a method to get around the hooded figures, moving through, gesturing for his allies to follow once more, trying to get close enough for an appraisal to go through, while sticking to places that would be placed between him and where the light was in the hopes he wouldn't be too easy to see, nor incinerate.

He took a quick look back to see what was going on in the explosion of light now that he was a bit closer, trying to keep a wide berth of things that would be able to harm him. After all, he had no intention of dying to some dragon following cultists.

 

[Sisyphus Happy]

"Not again," he sighed quietly. Perhaps it is about time to hang up the formal greeting. First was the bipedal and hairy creature which resembled the bun manchi of Nepal more than a gorilla, but muddy brown and nearly eight feet in height. After once the skeleton of a lizard person told him of a time long past when in his fair city, houses would float freely through the air tethered by constructions of mana, he reasoned that many creatures in this world which do not look like they possess intelligence can speak and build mysterious works greater than the technology of his own world. The bipedal and hairy creature roared at him and dashed him into pieces with a swing of the arm, thankfully only dirtying his already aged garb. Then there was a group of humans whom he approached on a road, waving from a distance. He wished to ask them kindly where he would find a settlement. They smashed him to pieces with clubs. On both occasions, there was little in the way of pain and he did not lose consciousness, but he had to wait for quite a while while his pieces very slowly assembled once more, guided by some unknown force.

"Perhaps it is time to quit with the pleasantries," he thought to himself with exasperation. By some inexplicable intuition he understood what they were evoking to some degree. He didn't even have time to put the canvas down before each of their gouts of flame poured forth, roiling and mingling together to form a bright hot wall of flame. He didn't have the eyelids to close against the bright glare, nor did he have the eyes to roll out of the tiresome cycle. The wave of flame rolled over him and scored his bones. Human bones turn to ash at about 2000 degrees; the flames bathing him blasted right through him and turned the front of his skeleton completely black. The force of it was similar to a strong wind and he was pushed to lean back against the sea of orange plasma. In his hands, the canvas scorched and turned to ash except for a couple of slips of paper clutched in his hands.

When it finally passed, his head was pushed back and his mouth was hanging open. Frozen and unable to move, Liu could only let out a vacuous sigh before each of his bones fell apart from each other and the sound of a xylophone falling apart filled the hallway. The two slips of paper, smouldering orange at their black edges eddied in the warm air blowing away due to the heat and all of his bones collapsed into a neat pile, crowning which was his vacant skull burned black with soot facing toward the entrance with its slack jaw agape. His position was somewhat out of the main walkway as a result of his previous location in an ancient hall toward to the left. Though he had no control over the movement of his bits, his senses were still about him. He reclined, muttering indignantly in his thoughts about the loss of his map of these ruins and how long it would take for him to recompose, for he did indeed have the strange ability to recover entirely from these kinds of destruction.

Spoiler: Abilities Used

• Regeneration F

 

[_Yang]

If Gamatsu had eyelids, the bright lights would've made him squint. Alas, he had none, nor did he have eyeballs to shield. But still, he veered his head sideward, away from blazing displace of fiery magic. Though relatively farther away, the flashes and heat that came with the flames were bothersome and made Gamatsu's grip on his staff grow tighter, causing it to faintly glow. As if by instincts, he was ready to take aim, but seeing Zeke's quick and opportunistic decision-making, some sense had popped into his empty helmet of a head. "Hmm. What if I didn't shoot?" Gamatsu thought to himself as hurriedly followed Zeke, doing his best to mimic his subtle movements to the best of his abilities. Aside from his tall frame, part of his attention was directed towards his thoughts. It was as if he made a profound revelation of some kind. It wasn't the best time to have one of those, but Gamatsu didn't realize that just yet.

It was unfortunate that things had to turn out this way. Being preoccupied by their attempts to remain unscathed along with dealing with an untimely epiphany, Gamatsu couldn't spare any more attention for the pile of bones. He would've found such a being interesting and a possible kindred spirit. Sadly, instead of a blooming friendship between living skeleton and armor, all that was left was a a sentient suit of armor tiptoeing his way behind a pirate, leaving the skeleton to be the ill-fated recipient of the bursting plume of flame.

Hopefully, their paths would still cross in the near future.

"Damn. Those guys weren't playing, huh?"

 

[Novama]

Time: 12:30 pm
Weather: freezing, breezey, overcast
Mentions: NeramoDJI _Yang Roffles Sisyphus Happy
OOC: generally ranged spells are at least E grade.
TLDR: while zeke and gamatsu slink around the side of the ruins in the cold, Liu has his remains unceremoniously thrown out and any items of his not turned to ash were confiscated.
Post Listenings:

Glattzdan Hills - Temple Ruins

​

Braving the cold air once more, Zeke and Gamatsu would find safety from the robed men, but they were once against stuck with the issue of being left in the elements and no closer to their goals of why they were seeking out the ruins in the first place. From the main entryway, they crept around the ruin to the left side going in a clockwise method around the ruin. Keeping their heads down, they did not risk being discovered by any except those that came outside, which none did unless they really had to. A large chunk of wall was missing from a portion of the massive domed chamber by them. If they climbed up, they would find a massively spacious hall on the other side. robed men dotted the chamber and the chantings and glow of a ritual seemed be underway. Glow emanated from beyond a massive, stone statue that loomed between their entry in the upper wall and the ceremony on the ground before the statue.

Liu's remains, after being thoroughly cooked, would be tended to promptly. Although some suggested using the bones for alchemical or other ritual work, it was deemed the damage was too severe to do anything but through them out. One of the men swept him into a pan and proceeded to take him to the entrance of the ruin and he yeeted him into the wind where any of his dusted remains may scatter in the breeze. The solid bits were free to crack and bruise as they might tumbling down the stone steps. Liu's items, what little if any remained, would be salvaged by the men and relocated in the massive chamber where several other members were performing rituals. In his bouncing and tumbling, Liu may have been able to make out Zeke and Gamatsu as they slinked around the side of the building.

 

[NeramoDJI]

"Looks like they're waking up that dream dragon of yours..." He said, glancing back at Gamatsu. "Should we introduce ourselv...." He said, before remembering monsters aren't exactly welcome in this world, sighing to himself. "Alright, this is a little bit of a dumb idea lad. But I need you to stay back here, while I go in. If I raise my hand like this, start shootin them." He said, raising his hand in the shape of a v with 2 of his fingers. "If I don't do that, do not shoot." He said, trying to get the plan across, while also keeping a careful eye on the ritual, trying to appraise anything he could around, aiming specifically for the circle itself. "You ready for me to do something real stupid?"

He asked, trying to make sure that Gamatsu was behind him. He was usually very calculating, but sometimes risks had to be made to actually accomplish things. And just sitting by while they did this ritual had a much higher chance of screwing them over than just asking and finding out about things. And if they attacked, well, he had a portal ready to cast at a moments notice to retreat to heaven. "Also, if I die or vanish, don't be a hero, just retreat got it? I probably don't need to tell you that, but keep it in mind." He said, wanting to prevent a situation where he escapes but gamatsu rushes in to die anyways. He wanted to make sure the plan was certain before doing any actions himself.

 

[Sisyphus Happy]

Spoiler: TL;DR Because it's basically a monologue

Liu laid there for a few and stared at the sky. Then he realized "I'm not dead, I'm UNdead." Then he got up and went after the group becuause he saw them while being throw in the trash.

All of his pieces clattered without resistance down the outer steps of the ruin. His head bounced once, then twice, then rolled down a few more steps before coming to a stop, face-up toward the sky, braced against a fallen column with his jaw pointed back toward the ruin. Above him, the somber clouds with a weakly glowing orb behind them moved at a breakneck pace, a mirrored sea which so often inspired his ancestors and contemporaries to art. The perfect backdrop for an ink painting. It reminded him of paper rolling through a mill just after it has been pressed with its varying textures sliding along, surface slick with solvents, the way the weak industrial lights glinted off of the coursing river of paper reminded him of the fast rushing spring rivulets which threaded their way down mountain slopes every year. But that was back home, somewhere else. There is no home here; here is a ruin and a courtyard and, deep inside, a great chamber and an unknown mass of some dastardly clergy with command over fire. It struck him like a match lighting in his mind that this temple reminds him of those of ancient India with their many headed gods, carved deep into mountains and cliffsides. But this is not an Indian temple. The clergy reminded him of the western Catholics, of which there are several monastic orders, some of which enjoy asceticism and wear such odd robes, and claim to have connections to miracles of the jewish god, but these are not Catholic monks. Back home, even sworn enemies were afforded some level of wartime rights, if indeed they did not have valuable information. Sometimes a soldier could surrender and be captured until the end of the war and they would survive as such. But Liu is not a soldier any more. Liu is a skeleton, a disliked monster. Liu is dead.

At all times during his stay on Earth, he had some inkling of the next few steps. Whether it be getting up in the morning or coordinating a battle, he had some opinion about the future. For a long time, his present feeling, one of muddy confusion, reflected by the amorphous gray blanket of clouds which he stared into, ruled his mind. Liu is dead. What can the future look like for a dead man? He learned many things about living, and even about how to die. If someone of his rank were to be captured, it would be disasterous, and he was expected to off himself before anyone could interrogate him. They offered him pills, but he had little like for medicine. He assured them that he would just gut himself with his saber if it ever came to it. Indeed, he was taught how to live, and even how to die, but never how to be dead. He could not play the part of the angry ghost, his vengence was wrought. So empty was he when his life's work was complete that he did away with himself; he reasoned that he died long before he killed himself. To have reincarnated here as a dead man must be a punishment, a cruel lesson.

So what can the future hold for someone who is dead and dead? To have lost their life and their passion, to shamble around as a walking corpse in a ruin long destroyed, in the midst of the living and their ambitions is a sin, is it not? His thoughts ceased for a little when the sprawling desert of cloud shifted above him, entering his mind and cloaking it in the same black fog. Eventually, some senses returned to him. He could feel the cold stone pressing into his back and arms, although he felt no pain because of it, and the cold did not make him shiver. A light wind brushed over his entire skeleton, right through his ribs and around his leg bones, even inside his jaw and nose, dusting out the inside of his head, and he could feel it, though muted. Perhaps he is not dead after all. He can still feel. He lifted his bony hand to the sky above his face and the meek orb of the sun glancing like a covered lantern through the blanket of clouds glowed through his phalanges. It was odd that even in the absence of meat and skin, the lower phalanges were held together by some unseen force, rendering something close to the shape of a human hand. He focused on the light behind the hand, and noted that perhaps his enjoyment of nature and the wind was not so full as it once was, surely skin had hair and other things help to better communicate the nuances of the wind roiling around the body and refreshing the spirit, but it could still be felt. With time, the feeling might even be just as good as having skin, one could get used to it. In his old home, a thing is either living or dead. This is not his old home. Perhaps things can be both. That being the case, perhaps he is not so dead as to be done for. He let his hand fall back to the steps with a woody 'tink.'

Stretching out into the future, all of these tiny rivulets of thought coalesced and his mind returned to him. For the first time since he arrived in this strange world, he had a plan. But first, perhaps it would be prudent to get some revenge on the absurd creatures that decided to burn him to a crisp. With a smooth motion, Liu sat up and looked down at his body as the last of his toes skidded across the ground and snapped back onto his foot, as though pulled by a magnetic force. Lifting his head, surveyed the ruins once again, thinking to himself about a plan regarding these bastards, they were numerous. Pondering on the idea of letting it go and making his own way, he realized that some time before, he spotted the backs of a couple of humanlike creatures. He did not get a good look at them due to their distance, but they were clearly not of that robed ilk. Perhaps they are a sufficient reason to persist. Pushing himself off of the ground, he leaned down and began making his way to where they seemed to be headed. His front was still burned black with soot, like Wile E Coyote after taking a stick of dynamite to the face. At least his bones were no longer smoking.

 

[_Yang]

Gamatsu had gone a long way from his non-chalant way of going about most situations. From casually strutting around a forest, his current circumstances forced him to act more discretely lest he wanted to end up scorched and melted. Though out of his comfort zone, Gamatsu's ability to advance while remaining low, slow, and silent, was passable. Well, it was sufficient enough to at least avoid any unwanted attention while they wandered through the cold and archaic ruins.

Their exploration appeared to be on the brink of fruitfulness as they had stumbled upon a massive draconic statue surrounded by a few more robed men. Visions of his dreams suddenly flashed in his head, jolting his mind briefly. It was as if he heard another whisper again.

"Looks like they're waking up that dream dragon of yours..." Zeke said, glancing back at Gamatsu. "Should we introduce ourselv...." He said, before remembering monsters aren't exactly welcome in this world, sighing to himself. "Alright, this is a little bit of a dumb idea lad. But I need you to stay back here, while I go in. If I raise my hand like this, start shootin them." Zeke said, raising his hand in the shape of a v with 2 of his fingers.

If Gamatsu had a mouth, he would've been grinning. Despite the steps forward he had taken after his realization earlier, it wouldn't be wrong to assume he had just taken a step or two back.

"If I don't do that, do not shoot." He said, trying to get the plan across, while also keeping a careful eye on the ritual.

"Aye, captain!" Gamatsu whispered, giving Zeke a quick jerk-like salute.

"You ready for me to do something real stupid?" He asked, trying to make sure that Gamatsu was behind him.

"Ha. Stupid is my middle name." Gamatsu was certainly behind him.

"Also, if I die or vanish, don't be a hero, just retreat got it? I probably don't need to tell you that, but keep it in mind."

Gamatsu blanked out a bit, imaging a scene where he went down in a blaze of glory trying to avenge a fallen comrade. No matter how poorly thought out of an idea it was, it definitely sounded amazing. It would make a good bedtime story one told children.

Unable to completely agree with Zeke, Gamatsu instead gave a hesitant thumbs up before prepping his bow. Grabbing it from the center and tightening his grip was all it took to turn his staff into a bow. Sort of. With his hand on the mana-formwd bowstring, Gamatsu gave it a slight tug as he glanced around the area in front of him, readying his aim.

"I'm good when you are, bro."