Fantasy Guardians of Tyr

[Trompe lOeil]

characters | Lore | OOC

Janissa​

What.
Just.
Happened.

Queen Janissa Almira, recently appointed monarch of Tyr, lay on her back, staring up at the ceiling. She swore quietly. Janissa would have never allowed herself to swear in polite society - but she wasn't in polite society. She was with the four people she trusted most - trusted at all - the four people she had chosen to act as Guardians.

The four people she had just granted magical powers.

The events were still fresh in her dully throbbing mind. A deep rumbling had started from underground, growing in intensity as the magic began to...unfurl, for lack of a better word. It pulsed from the light of the mural engraved on the wall, four colors for the four warriors that were to awaken. Tendrils of raw magic slowly began to branch out from the mural, growing like vines. They grew in size and brightness as the rumbling increased. Wind had whipped up from somewhere, and a vibrant hum started. Janissa had to look away, shielding her eyes. Through her fingers she saw the magic seek out each person and flow into them. It built until Janissa thought she would shake apart - then it burst out of the wall, sending her flying.

Which is why she was on the ground, nursing a headache, taking stock of everything. "Is everyone alright?" she called out, her voice sounding too loud in the now quiet room. They were deep beneath the palace, in a roughly hollowed out cavern somewhere in the ruins.

With gritted teeth, Janissa pushed herself to sitting, then to her feet. Oh, that wasn't so bad. She only stumbled a little.

"Oh...oh my."

There was a pit in the floor in front of the mural. A semi-circle of the floor had fallen away. Janissa couldn't see the bottom from where she was - she had no idea how far down it went. It revealed a second half of the mural, previously hidden by the floor.

The mural depicted more figures. They almost mirrored the Guardians, except they were...stranger. Different. They had their own light, but they also had wings, and horns, and - a portal. A portal separated the two halves of the mural, connecting the lower figures to the Guardians. Janissa stared at it, desperately hoping that it was showing more heroes. But they didn't look like heroes. They looked like something far darker.

"This is going to be a lot harder than I thought."

From deep beneath the ground, the magic - streaming into some people, awakening others, calling out to the Adversaries - seemed to agree.

 

[Yonsisac]

A New Beginning

There was always evil in the realm of mortals represented in many ways, mostly in creatures far beyond understanding, Monsters. Through day and night, from dawn to dusk, the world of mortals was threaten by these beings in many forms: Blazing villages to ash, destroying crops, or vanishing traveling merchants and caravans. Many have been slain with numbers that never dwindle no mater what is done, such they have to come from somewhere yet none is found. They have a origin but us far from the mortal realm, far beyond the demon realm itself lays one more plain, a realm where no mortal could survive, the realm of monsters. The Hellion Realm.

The Hellion realm itself was nothing as massive floating rock islands connected by oversize metal chains one another,created in the demon realm to hold all in one and populated by only monsters. wyrms,goblins,giants,wraiths and upon many others roam this white stone hellish land free and wild as the food chain takes its tole on its populants. One and another kill each with no order, no remorse, just hunger and hate tearing the land and such it needed order, it needed Gatekeepers. Three gatekeepers are chosen among demon kin every three millenniums to maintain it under control and alive for there own use. It serves for one thing and one thing only for the demons: to populate the mortal realm with danger and no rest, just fear and death.

Among the monsters the three demons lived in "Harmony" if one could call it that and in this generation three are not chosen, but created by the three previous Gatekeepers to see a new breed and such being born in the Hellion realm itself one could say these demon kin are hybrid of both species. Monsters respect them and follow there command like a dog to its master compared when demons are chosen to care the realm, monsters try to slaughter them and treat them nothing as prey. The scent of monsters riddle these three sibling demons as they care for the realm and danger all, but such they needed rest to restore there power even if its not there fullest...till now...

Four new "Guardians" have been chosen and such power is release from the ritual to Awaken demons...Xalxel included.

From the highest point in the hellion realm, three statues stood tall with crossed arms like sentinels over watching there lands. Red lightning began to crackle among them, being struck each second as stone began to crack and fall revealing...they are not statues. There eyes began to glow bright as stars as silence soon followed as not even the wind could be heard. A piercing roar shakes the land as stone tears and a tall figure emerges from the encasing falling on its knees as two others follow beside him. Its many eyes raise and look to the red sky slowly standing up breathing deeply with saliva dripping from his sharpen maw. It was the leader of this generation of Gatekeepers, Xalxel.

"There here..." His shallow deep voice echoed silently, his back glowing with the four gems encrusted within him, once being unable to use them but now...now he can. The surge of power made him grow and so the other two, reaching near 20 feet in height. Horns cracking and snapping being twice there original size and crooked as he was "Awaken". A calling, he was being called, spoken, whispered to rise and stand once more and now with all his might. "We must call Among the others..." the winged demon said on the left, "Correct, seems its time" the serpent demon on the right spoke. Xalxel looked both and chuckled softly as he began to march down the mountain, monsters flying or running by them and showing there respect. "We must, I shall travel to our home and look for the others to discuss this matter" Xal said in such a calm tone.

At the bottom of the mountain his siblings marched off to begin there jobs of order, while Xalxel stood still, his fist thrust forward piercing the thin air creating a tear in front of him, his free arm grabbing the edge and began to stretch the crack making it break and grow in size till he could slip by and vanish as it closed.


RESUME!
Xalxel and the other two gatekeepers have awaken from there rest
Xalxel traveled from Hellion to the Demon realm looking for others among his rank​

 

[GrieveWriter]

Dundri's Friendly Start!​

On the roads far to the outskirts of Tyr, where it was mostly small villages seperated by woodland, a lone carriage was being ushered along by its driver. He was a man of young appearance, but his barrel like arms betrayed his hardworking demeanor. A full yet trimmed beard was itched at as the man continuously gave glances to his surroundings. The back road he was taking home to his village was often considered safer for small-time travelers like himself, but even so he occasionally reached back to the woodcutter's axe behind him. He was no warrior, but he could at least fight off some of the smaller beats which may find him to be an easy-looking target.

He was just a woodsman turned trader, who had been swept up in talk of a new form of spices developed in a neighboring village. Most would consider the journey arduous, but he had reason to invest into this potential new source of wealth. Back home was his wife, and the child within her would grow merrily under the support of the money he could make with such a venture.

He just needed to make it back to his village... then he would be-

A figure launched out from the nearby shrubbery in front of his carriage. The trader acted quickly, yanking on the reins of his horses with one hand while the other went to his axe. He was prepared to contend with whatever stood between him and the future of his family.

But when nothing happened and the horses steadied, the Trader narrowed his eyes before climbing down from his cart. Axe in hand, the man walked past his horse towards what appeared to be a bundle of cloth and metal which had been flung onto the ground.

He was prepared to check on the bundle when a small moan of pain reached his ears.

Soon the man was reaching down and pulling the cloth apart, and only when he saw the face of an injured young child did he relinquish his hold on the axe. The bundle was actually foreign-looking clothes which had seen better days, and the little girl he helped into his arms was of a dark complexion.

Soon a pair of amber eyes looked up to the man, and the girl began speaking a foreign tongue he could not understand.

Had she escaped slavers? Been ran from a village far off? The trader new not why this youngling had been left in such a sorry state, but what he did know was that she would never survive out here on her own.

Soon the girl was bundled up in the back of his carriage, where she quickly fell asleep.

His resolve hardening under the weight of another burden, the Trader ushered his horses onward, faster than before. A child's life was in his hands, and he would not fail at protecting with his own arriving soon.

"Worry not child, you shall be in safe hands soon."

The jostling of the carriage did not wake the child in back, for she never fell asleep in the first place. Instead, she was now peaking from the end of the carriage up towards the sky. Her amber eyes looked upon the clouds above in wonder, before suddenly turning red and blue.

Dundrori had leaped for the human world the second he caught but a whiff of it, his first instinct on arrival was to turn into the most sympathetic looking being he could imagine. He chose the form of a lost-looking Forqothian child, dressed in the tattered clothes of the old kingdom and everything. This was a mistake that he realized upon seeing exactly who had found him.

The Driver of the carriage was of fair complexion, nothing like the dark-skinned Forqothians of the sands.

But mistakes always happen, and Dundrori found himself laughing quietly at what a silly mistake he had made. He was actually glad the driver didn't seem to question it, oh that would be quite an embarrassment for him. Just think, only seconds in the mortal realm and already he was making a fool of himself.

It gave him a giggle, he could be so ditzy at times... Unbelievable!

But what made him want to smile wider was the realization that he'd already made a friend in such a quick time! This carriage driver looks as though he's going somewhere with a purpose. Sure, there was the injured child trick Dundrori had to employ on him... but it was more than that! The disguised demon of poisons raised a finger and watched its nail extend a bit. He then retracted it....

Then extended it again...

He did it again and again repeatedly for a while, mentally adding in whacky sound effects for every time the nail rose and fell.

The distraction wore off when a rather well placed bump in the road made Dundrori nearly fall upon his nail, which wouldn't have done much other than leave him embarrassed again!

It gave him another giggle!

Oh, barely five minutes in the mortal plane and he was loving it! He made a friend, got to try on what he believed to be one his cuter forms if he did say so himself, and he was off on a jolly adventure already!

Dundrori smiled and looked at the world outside of the carriage as his eyes shifted back to the amber color of the Forqothian girl...

...and he fantasized of all the other friends he was about to make!

 

[The One Eyed Bandit]

Beckoned here by the Queen herself, Alanna's presence here tonight was a matter of course. Being called to the side of the highest authority of the city, how could she even think to refuse. A summons of such magnitude was hardly even a request, instead an order that she followed in a heartbeat.

Her Highness's talk of magic had, she had to admit, a touch of fishiness to it. She'd do near anything for the woman but that didn't mean she was without doubts. That this may just be some flight of fancy, picked up by a young Monarch looking to solidify her reign. Or perhaps an initiation ritual for some society beneath the surface of Tyr. As her eccentricity would suggest, Alanna was a person with many a flight of fancy. So the list went on, populated by a mishmash of her most outlandish daydreams and paranoias.

But hell, the idea that all of this was real? Magic and all that nonsense. She had a feeling that it was above her pay grade.

The, coincidentally hellish looking, pit in front of her spoke to just that truth, however. Not even that. Alanna was hardly a woman of superstition but even she couldn't deny the sensation of power flowing into her only a few moments before. That really was fanciful wording, a word so vague as power. Yet, it was the only one that came to mind. That even, was not the last of it. Power so raw that it shook the earth, was that what had just entered her body. For the first moment a foreign feeling, one that her instincts told her to reject, only for that primal response to be snuffed out by something more ancient. She was back to that word. Magic. Something so old and mighty that she and the other three warriors who'd been offered as vessels couldn't begin to hold it.

It overflowed, perhaps. It seeped back into the earth and exploded out. Tore that gaping pit open wide. Sent the lot of them tumbling to their needs. Panic. Panic. Not at the force that had intruded into her body, or even the one that had thrown her to her knees. Instead to the thing in the pit. The mural. Much like their own, but different. Naturally, she was no expert on matters like these. She was however, famously quick to a point. To understand things, rather. It'd saved her time and time again; She probably wouldn't even be in her line of work of not for it. So even with her lack of experience, even with her lack of belief and even with her half shot, still recovering senses, Alanna could reach the conclusion.

That there was a second half to this ritual of the Queen's, and when meddling with something unknowable like this... A bad feeling swept over her without warning.

"I... I am fine." Still, she offered no words of recourse. Not that performing a ritual such as this with only half of the knowledge didn't put the Queen's competency into question. She just wouldn't be the one to question it. Not that she was some fervent devotee of Tyr, but she was present today to earn favor. It sounded rather cold-hearted when spoken out loud, which admittedly was part of the reason why she so rarely spoke, but Alanna wasn't ashamed. Her cause was noble after all. Something she could allow herself to be proud of.

This ordeal, whatever it would be, would just have to serve as another stepping stone towards it. Regardless of how small, slippery, and dangerous it may be.

 

[Rantos]

Ure Lilly
Beggar's Quater - Ragnarok HQ
It was all too infuriating, this familiar feeling of powerlessness. It was a feeling that everyone in the Quater knew better than the backs of their hands. A feeling that haunted Ure, stitched into her being, this feeling of helplessness. The source of this dread, a castle in the distance visible even past the titanic walls of the Quater. Those cast in the shadow felt its opposition day in and day out. Ure felt it the worst of all. Walking the streets she watched those struggle. The starved child, the begging man, the broken mother, the decaying corpse. The Ure, unable to save them all. It pained her to lock eyes with those who only knew agony. It was all too infuriating, this familiar feeling of powerlessness.

There was little Ure could do. To change a whole quarter, to fix the countless wrongs made over centuries was truly a mad goal, and Ure knew this. Yet maybe, just maybe, Ure was mad enough to see such a goal through until the end. Surely, it was preferable to waiting for disease and famine to take her.

Today too, Ure found that all she could do was watch the castle in the distance. She imagined it burning, or crumbling to the ground. She imagined a great flood or even a storm to wash it away. She imagined how many people that castle could fit, vs how many actually occupied it. Ure was wasting time, she knew that there were more important matters that needed her. Yet Ure couldn't look away. Her melancholic frustration giving way to anger with each passing second. Strong emotions welled within, growing stronger and stronger still with each heartbeat. Her vision felt hazy as if she was losing focus. She felt hot, her head hurt, foreign feelings swirled within and for a moment, Ure felt as though she would explode.

"Oi, boss, you feeling alright?"

Ure didn't realize it immediately, but she was doubled over. Hands on her knees, supporting herself. Ure turned to the voice that called out to her, reassuring the young man. It must have been a heat stroke, maybe she just needed to sit. Requesting help from the man, Ure sat down and was joined by the young man. He was short, plucky, and had a big smile that Ure loved. He spoke. "So we're going on another supply run tonight-"

"You want me to join you." Ure cut him short. "My answer's not changing: I can't, I'd only slow you down. So please, stop asking before I stupidly say yes one of these days." The young man opened his mouth as if to speak, yet nothing came forth. He knew better. With a pat on the back, Ure dismissed the young man, told him his time would be better spent elsewhere. As he walked away, visibly dejected, Ure felt that same familiar feeling of powerlessness. It was all too infuriating.

 

[Pyosimros]

Ayla Ciel

Mentions - Trompe lOeil , The One Eyed Bandit , Rantos , and RoninN7
- -

Ayla was enthused when she had first been summoned by Queen Janissa. One of four people to be summoned for this specific event out of all that lived in Torrien--it was something anyone would be giddy from, Ayla was no exception. Despite the details told to her during her summon, she had still expected something more "normal". A promotion perhaps, or even a small fortune. And she expected to obtain whatever "magic" the call had meant.

Arriving and performing the ritual however, Ayla had only received the latter.

Out the mural, tendrils began to spurt out. Ayla wanted to yelp in fear, but she couldn't produce a noise. She could handle bandits, brigands, or pirates, but not the supernatural. She was perhaps the only person who had begun to run. Ayla turned a heel and began making a mad dash towards the exit--she had so much more to fulfill in life rather than to be impaled by a magical tendril.

Her escape lasted only three seconds, stopping once she had felt a tingling sensation. It was strange, and in a short time she felt empowered, as if she could overcome anything coming her way. Though this sensation was short lived, and through an explosion Ayla was abruptly blasted onto the ground.

Her ears began ringing loudly and fear began to race back to her--that feeling of power being lost. The only words Ayla could hear in the subsequent moments were, "Is everyone alright?"

Ayla's head slowly turned towards the voice, it was her Queen. Hearing her voice managed to calm her down, becoming more reasonable. Summoning strength that had not been lost in the explosion, she exclaimed, "I-I'm okay!" It was the strangest sequence of events Ayla had ever gone through, though she had a feeling the strangeness had just begun.

 

[Trompe lOeil]

Two of them had started to rouse, which was good. Janissa turned back to them. Alanna and Ayla, two very different, yet capable, women. "I'm glad," she said, when they both confirmed that they were all right.

In all honesty, Janissa hadn't known what she'd signed the four Guardians up for. Yes, the mural had been fairly clear. Yes, the ritual had been described. But what sort of person was required to use it? What if there had been a test of some sort, and they had failed? Janissa trusted the four she'd chosen with more than her life - she trusted them with the safety of all of Tyr. But...well, she'd risked their lives. And she'd intentionally chosen four warriors with very different temperaments. Just in case the magic had wanted to choose a certain type of person.

Rule is about choices, her father had told her. She was beginning to understand that. Janissa had chosen to risk the Guardians' lives. She'd chosen to risk this ancient ritual. The consequences of these actions were solely hers. Yet she couldn't help but feel grateful that she was now sharing this burden, at least in part. Four powerful mages at her side was no small thing.

She forced herself to push the lower half of the mural out of her mind for now. She would have to cross that bridge another time. Right now, her warriors had supposedly just gained magical powers. And that was worth a few hard choices.

"Do you feel any...different?" she asked Alanna and Ayla. She would love nothing more than for them to test their powers - if they indeed had them - but she didn't want to push them. It must have been taxing. "Any, well, magic?"

 

[Rantos]

Ira Graves
In the thick of it
From royal knight to royal Guardian. Even now, as Ira stood before the mural, he couldn't believe how unlucky he was. Long gone were the days of sleeping in. Of skipping training or guard duty. So long were the days of being Ira the lazy knight. The time came for Ira to step up. To become someone better than himself for the sake of others. The time came to become a real guardian. To protect and serve, to keep the peace and to ensure the smiles of every person in the kingdom. What a pain.

Still, only a fool would take for granted what a great honor this was. To be given magic was a great honor. To be recognized by the queen herself was a great honor. To have the weight of the city on his shoulders was a great pain. Yet it's not as if he could say no. Rejecting a request from the queen herself would surely be met with punishment. More importantly, it would also be rude.

The time finally came. The ritual was starting. Trepidation began to sink in. Ira wasn't ready. Ira would never be ready. But that wasn't about to stop him. Ira got into place, and the ritual began. The ground began to shake, and overwhelming pressure began to beat down on Ira. Pain, coursing through his veins. Burning sensations overtaking him. Ears ringing, adrenalin pumping. Then, darkness.

This darkness wasn't that of death. It was one Ira knew well. It was the darkness of unconsciousness, and it only lasted for a moment. Eyes open. The worst was over now. Ira took a look around. Everyone seemed to be okay, and it seemed the worst of the damage was to the floor which now gave way to reveal a mural. It was sinister in nature, sending a chill down Ira's spine. It didn't take a genius to figure out the message this second part of the mural was trying to get across. Testing magic would have to come later. Right now, Ira needed to rest. On his feet, Ira began making his way to the queen.

"Your Majesty, are you alright?" Ira wanted to talk about the ominous mural but now did not feel like the time nor the place. Once Ira confirmed the queen's wellbeing he turned to the others. "And are you all alive and well? No broken bones or anything of the like I hope."
Trompe lOeil Pyosimros The One Eyed Bandit

 

[RoninN7]

When he first arrived to serve the royalty of Tyr, Tristan had many ideas in mind which ranged from a soldier to a personal bodyguard. In all of the scenarios he had imagined for the form that his service would take, this was certainly never considered. Upon receiving the call from his Queen, Tristan immediately responded, moving to where he was called to as quickly as possible. The idea of being granted magical powers beyond comprehension was certainly appealing, but Tristan understood that there were deeper implications that came with performing such a ritual.

He knew that this ritual was meant to turn him into a guardian of Tyr, and that it would make him a lot stronger, but he felt like something might be amiss. Tristan trusted his Queen with his life and would never doubt her judgement, but releasing such incredible power couldn't be without consequence. Before Tristan really had any time to further develop his thoughts, his nerves started to go into overdrive as the ritual began. Everything started to shake around Tristan and he began to feel something powerful flowing through his entire body. Every inch of his body was shaking and felt like it was going to collapse in on itself.

Suddenly, everything just stopped and all Tristan could see was black. As he began regaining his senses, he felt a painful ringing in his ears and the muffled sound of voices caught his attention. Slowly, Tristan opened his eyes and blinked a few times to adjust his blurry vision. As Tristan stood up, he looked around and noticed that everyone was already up and looking just as tired as he felt. Tristan continued to look around, noticing that a collapse had revealed another part of the mural. This part depicted exactly was Tristan worried about: under the Guardians there was some sort of portal and below that there were figures that looked similar, but somehow... off.

Tristan really had no idea what those things were, but considering how the mural included both sides he deduced that the Guardians had something to do with the more sinister side. His head hurt way too much to dwell on the thought any longer so he simply decided to get back to it later and turned back to his fellow guardians. As he did, he noticed that Queen Janissa was now also down there with them. She looked concerned about them, which was understandable considering how everyone seemed to feel after undergoing the ritual. Tristan wondered what powers he had received, but chose to wait until after he'd gotten some time to rest before testing them out.

He decided to approach the group, which was when he heard another Guardian ask about broken bones. This reminded him to check his entire body, which he did by simply moving his limbs around and twisting his hips a little trying to make sure that nothing cracked or hurt. Feeling a little too groggy to say much, he simply nodded to signal that his body felt adequate. It was worrying, though, that all four of them were present, but nothing like those things at the bottom of the mural were anywhere to be seen.

 

[Yonsisac]

(is this ok Trompe lOeil ? hope this is what you asked!)

Mortal realm....

After spending short time in the demon realm Xalxel saw mayor interest in knowing these new "Guardians" that have been chosen in the world. Not far from the walls protecting the city of Tyr in the outskirts deep in the Forrest was a cavern formation of unnatural looks. It seem more like a dig out hole in the stone and for a reason as far deep in the short cavern formation was three dark obsidian pedestals that began to shine and crackle with electricity. A portal slowly formed revealing the red misted world inside and from it emerged a tall human adorn in clad armor and horns followed by a creature of its own height made of ice. Xalxel walked out of the cavern as the sun glare made it hard to see, shielding his eyes he hissed and looked towards the direction of the great wall that protected Tyr. A tall "Glacial watcher" stood beside Xalxel seem to await orders and such the great demon took a step forwards looking through the tree line capable of seeing bits of the wall. He pointed towards the city and only said "Find them, see who are these new guardians" with such simple orders the creature gave a howl like call to the sky. The ground beneath it began to get cold, icicles formed and the grass froze solid and shattered as glass and 10 "Frost hounds" emerge from the frozen air, the "Alpha" monster being the watcher soon himself turn in to one in the same of the hounds but bigger, mightier and with white trailing eyes. They began to speed through the Forrest treeline towards the city and Xalxel simply walked back down the cave and vanish once more to there home realm. It seemed this wont be a peaceful day.

East wall of Tyr...

In the outskirts of the east side of the walls farmland grew in short numbers as farmers tile the soil to be prepared for plantation. The sun as rather bright with patches of clouds taking the sky and it seems all was well,for a little while. Closing in towards the farming lands mortals took note, a white mist closed in slowly, cold began to shiver through the skins of those that were close and the ground beneath began to be slowly covered in flakes of snow. Nothing could e seen inside the mist but it as obvious to many that this was not normal no mater what. Some stop what they did and ran towards the open gate, some stood still slowly backing up but the guards on the wall began to take action. Archers took position high up as the gate began to slowly close, trumpets boomed from the east warning of incoming monsters. Those outside began to escape in the safety of the walls but those who were to slow, where garbed by some invisible force within the mist, began to scream only to soon fall silent. Soon the odd fog reached the wall as the gate was near done closing till a loud cricking began to take eye, both archers and those near the gate dint see what was inside the mist but what could be noted was that the gate is being hold open for a few seconds before it smashed down and close. The fog outside began to vanish but it began to spread behind the wall yet it dint go anywhere it just stood in one place. It was silent within the mist but those near the gate began to flee, arches aiming down there bow and arrows at the mist waiting for the creature to reveal itself and soon it did.

The mist vanished instantaneously, hounds made of ice began to ravage and kill all those in there sight with no remorse, no mater who they are. From just a few dead it began to turn in to a massacre, archers fired there bows but there arrows just stuck themselves in the thick ice of the creatures but one stood off from the rest. The Watcher. Its eyeless face stared at the archers as arrows began to pierce its harden cold hide, used its ice shield like appendage to deflect all arrows only for it to swing its ice claw hand making sharp frozen spikes to form where the archers where, impaling some, others injured, others continued there attack. The hounds began to roam deeper in to the east of the beggar quarter slowly moving in towards the market killing anything in there path as the "alpha" follow. Knights began to close in fending off the creatures but the harden ice made it hard for there blades to break through. The alpha on the other hand just slowly marched through the bodies and behind its pawns as they did the dirty work, some slip by and tried to battle but were only faced with death by its frozen claws. Its head scan around, sniffing the air looking for specific individuals...

It began to stomp its feet on the ground and release a bellowing roar, its hounds with no rest continued there blind slaughter, bursting through wooden doors,climbing the stack houses and sniffing for prey. The watcher knew that these "Guardians" would need to appear soon, what kind of guardians were they if they dint protect the people they are task to defend? what better way to draw them out then killing anything behind these walls.

 

[Trompe lOeil]

(( RoninN7 that's perfect! Thanks so much!))

"I'm fine," Janissa told Ira. She was torn between being annoyed that he'd felt the need to ask - she could take care of herself, and she wasn't the one who had received mysterious magical powers - and annoyed with herself for that being her initial reaction. Protecting her was one of the main roles the Guardians had. This was what she wanted.

She just wasn't used to all the attention. Growing up, she'd taken care of herself. With the help of the guards, of course. She'd been royalty, but not this important. Not the most important.

"Well, now that everyone's- hmm?" The sound of footsteps echoed down the hallway outside, ringing clearly against the stone. Whoever it was, they were moving fast.

The door was thrown open, and a harried-looking guard looked around for Janissa. "My lady- Your majesty! It's the East Gate - the Beggars' Quarter - it's being attacked!"

"What? By what?" It was usually a what, unless someone was threatening all-out war. By the gods, she hoped it wasn't all-out war.

"These...ice monsters, your majesty! Ice wolves, and something else. It's bad. They've made it to the market."

Janissa nodded briskly, her mind made up. There was no time to worry. "I hope you're all ready for this, because they need us out there," she told the four of them. Then she moved to follow the guard. "Lead the way."

"They moved to the wall under the cover of some magical fog, your majesty," the guard reported as they walked. The ruins were extensive, but they also reached under most of the city. They'd be able to emerge in the Beggars' Quarter without having to travel from the castle. "Then it disappeared, and- it was a slaughter. The guard is doing what they can, but...well, I'm glad I found you."

After several minutes of brisk walking, they climbed a ladder and emerged a few blocks from the market square. Another guard was waiting at the entrance, holding Janissa's bow. "Boy am I glad to see you, Your Majesty," she said, handing the bow and quiver to Janissa.

"Thank you," she said, shouldering the quiver. "Have you been able to contain the wolves?"

The guard gulped. "I'm afraid not."

Janissa bit back the urge to swear. "I need you in place!" she called to the Guardians, hoping desperately that they were behind her. "Time to test out those powers." Please.

 

[Rantos]

Ira Graves
Castle Quater to Beggars Quater - East Gate
tag: Pyosimros RoninN7 Trompe lOeil The One Eyed Bandit
Well, everyone was breathing and accounted for and that in itself can be considered good days work. After such a process everyone must have been tired, Ira knew he was. So now would be as good a time as any to call it quits, rest up and regroup tomorrow, maybe have some dinner first. Just as Ira was about to suggest a rest, a guard broke through the door. Words didn't need to be said, Ira could tell exactly what the guard was so hurried about by his expression. No time to rest, they had to mobilize. What a pain.

With sword and wits and apparent magic at the ready, Ira followed behind his Queen. Together with the other guardians, they made their way to the scene. Emerging from the ground, they were greeted by a few guards, one of them handed the Queen a bow. So, she was to join the fight too?

"I beg your pardon, your majesty, but be careful out there. We don't need our Queen kicking the bucket so soon after she was crowned." Ira wanted to advise the Queen to stay back, stay safe. But ordering the Queen was above his pay grade, so he stilled his tongue. Plus, he had respect for the fact that she was willing to take up arms with no hesitation.

"Alright,"-Ira pointed to the guards as he spoke-"It would ease my mind knowing at least four guards stay with the Queen at all times! As for us,"-Ira turned to his fellow guardians-"I say we split into teams of two. Cover more ground and protect each other's backs. Though in truth I don't care how you go about beating these monsters, just don't die." Ira then scanned who he had to work with, in truth he didn't get a good look at any of them before now.

"You, black hair, no pants. The name's Ira. I like your outfit, so you're coming with me." No point in delaying any further, once Ira made sure the young woman was following him, he took off to the East Wall.


Ure Lilly
Beggars Quater - Ragnarok HQ
tag: n/a
Ragnarok was first on the scene. Ure's warriors took up their rusty swords and led the charge. As soon as the mist gave way and the monsters reared their heads, bared their teeth, several members took off to fight. Ure too held a blade in her hand, a dagger. Though she was not on the streets. No, this time, like every time, Ure sat within the safety of her base. Head hanging low, eyes locked on the blade that showed no wear. She couldn't help but tremble. Weakness numbed her legs. Fear froze her arms. The knowledge that she was a liability in a fight creep over her, bound her to a chair.

The screams were all too insufferable. She heard it, each guttural cry, every beg for mercy reverberated within, shook her bones. She turned her head, frightened eyes gazing out the window to meet with the eyes of a monster. She couldn't move, she couldn't draw breath. Ure looked into the eyes of the beast and found nothing but death staring back. Was her story to end here, now? In a moment of desperation, she found strength, removing herself from her seat, facing the beast with dagger drawn. A trembling mess. If she was to meet her end she would meet it standing.

But the monster didn't enter. It passed the window by. It continued on. Uninterested. Was it that it didn't see her. Was it that the beast didn't find Ure worthy of killing. Or maybe, it found a better target. Ure's suspicions were soon confirmed upon hearing the sound of a child, a young boy who's voice Ure could put a name to. That scream was the tipping point. Fear subsided. The chains that held her gave way. Ure ran, hitting the door open and making a mad dash towards the beast and the boy. Once Ure caught up, blade connected with ice, catching the attention of the beast, and Ure yelled to the boy. Run.

Caught in a vicious dance, blade connected with ice, again and again. Hardly a dent was made in the ice of the monster, yet Ure didn't give up the attack. Screaming in rage, driven by her ideals she fought harder than previously thought possible. Until, at last, a solid hit. The dagger pierced the eye of the monster. In its blind frenzy, the beast swatted Ure away, sent her skidding across cobblestone. Sense, pain, and reason gave way to the adrenaline coursing through her. She grabbed a stone, rubble from a broken building, and charged at the beast again and again and again, being swatted away each time. Battered and bloody, all she could do was stand. Dropping the stone, Ure let a self-satisfactory smile light her face.

 

[GrieveWriter]

Dundri Takes Flight!​

Dundrori nuzzled into the comfy bed of the Almshouse he was placed in, feeling the genuine warmth of the sheets around him made him release slightly pleased giggles each time he twirled in their silken embrace. Of course, with the semi-flawed skin of a Forqothian girl he was unable to fully enjoy the feeling of the cloth. He made due, however, and continued nestling in its embrace whilst taking as many deep breaths as his small body could.

He had been left here by the kind Trader who did a superb job making it to his village. Many of his neighbors had come to greet him, and even his wife practically barreled out of their home to enshroud him in her embrace. But they all were halted upon seeing the weak-looking foreign girl in his arms.

Quick as can be she was passed off to the owner of the local almshouse, where she could be cared for along with the rest of the village's weak.

Dundrori had noted with an internal smile how the trader had given a subtle little cough as he left to be with his woman. What a pleasant friend to meet so quickly!

The Proprietor had been nice too, tucking the small child into bed and giving her soothing words before moving to care for the others.

All of them looked so weak and feeble, if Dundrori was in his true form he might've even teared up on their behalf. Instead he waited, remaining the very definition of picturesque slumber until the proprietor left.

It was then he began writhing, moving and breathing as hard as he could to get as much of his gift into the almshouse's air as possible.

The others remained in their beds, occasionally shifting but remaining asleep as the air was altered around them.

As soon as he was sure that his gift had settled pleasantly into their lungs, the Demon arose from his bed as the image of the little Forqothian girl shimmered and shifted. His body changed, turning almost sludge like as his clothes and flesh changed. Despite it seeming like quite a gruesome process, not a sound was made by the amalgamation as another humanoid form took shape.

Soon a lithe and limber boy dressed in quite form fitting clothing stood up with a tiny little smile already forming on his lips. With the elegance of a performer, he danced soundlessly over to one of the nearby beds and looked over the resting woman with a glimmer in his eyes before giving a silent coo.

"Poor child," his words just barely slipped from his lips as he placed a comforting hand on her head and brushed her hair "No worries friend, your suffering shall be over before ya know it!"

The woman stirred at that, but by the time she slowly raised her head up, the room was silent around her.

Outside, a small lizard crawled to the top of the building before it formed yet again into the limber boy, who did several stretches atop the building before pressing a finger to his lips with a giggle "They'll be havin' fun in no time, but they ain't got the flare me old friends had!" He sighed and shrugged, retaining his smile the entire time, before placing his hands on his girlish hips and looking over the surrounding village.

From his position, he could see some of the villagers going about their day, he was far too short to be spotted without effort.

But before he could begin to think up new ways to play with his friends, something tickled the back of his nose, and his head shot up as he began sniffing the air. Turning in one direction, he sniffed heavily before a euphoric expression came to his face.

"Oh my, seems to be a delicious amount of death over there." he chittered to himself while using both his hands to massage his suddenly blushing cheeks "Oh, but I just got these new friends, wouldn't want them thinking I was up an' abandonin' them or anything."

Suddenly, something tapped him on the shoulder, and the demon turned to come face to face with...

...his own tail.

The appendage poked at him, drawing a confused smile from the demon, before pointing in the direction of that heavenly scent.

"But my new pals-"

The tail jabbed him in the ribs, causing Dundrori to give a little squeak before giggling, "I suppose meeting new people in a world so different is just as important."

He gave the head of his tail a grateful pat for helping him make up his mind. Soon a graceful looking bird set off from the roof of the Almshouse and into the sky, immediately catching sight of an immaculate looking city in the far distance.

O-oh my~

The demon felt his giddiness multiply at the sheer size of the city.

So many friends! Just waitin' for me gift!

The bird gave several graceful twirls and spins through the air as Dundrori began internally giggling.

This day is just gettin' better and better!

 

[Pyosimros]

Ayla Ciel

Mentions - RoninN7
- -

"Any, well, magic?"

Solemnly, Ayla shook her head. "Mmmnn...not really," she replied, biting lightly onto the bottom of her lip. "Not magic. But a miracle that we lived through that instead."

From far away the loud echoes of panicked footsteps could be heard, attracting Ayla's attention. Her head moved towards the sound - and through the hallway emerged one of Janissa's guards. Exhaustedly, he began to speak of an attack, and moreover an attack involving ice monsters.

Ayla's face was one of immediate concern. She had never seen an ice monster in her life, nor had she even seen a normal monster. Though, Janissa still ordered for them to go to the disturbance - to likely end it. Ayla had slight doubts, yet she tossed them away within the ritual location and trudged forth.

"Time to test out those powers."

"Yes!" Ayla squeaked. there was nothing else she could bring herself to say in this situation. Instead, Ira took charge - suggesting for them to split in two in order to work more efficiently. Ira and the girl with black hair went ahead, leaving Ayla and the other man behind.

Ayla's body faced her new partner, and she gave a hesitant nod. "Ok, it's you and me. C'mon let's go!" she exclaimed, running off into the fray.

 

[Yonsisac]

The snow in the city

The Watcher's eyeless face scanned like a sentinel in watch, sniff the air like a starving lion and soon he could taste the scent so unique standing out from all these mortals, he knew they are near. It gave out a piercing screech as it began to spit out angry orders in demonic language, none could understand but there are very few who can "FIND THEM! BRING ME THERE HEADS! FLAY THERE FLESH! FIND THEM!" it yelled loudly, the wolf stop there mission of killing innocents as the guardians have appeared finally. All regroup near the alpha yet one was missing but there was no time to care, and the alpha dint even give a slight care in the world about the missing wolf. "Find them! Find them all! taste there mortal stench! they are near!" Soon the alpha pointed forward as the wolfs split in in one group of five and the other of four in search for the guardians. The alpha soon began to screech again, the crack on its head began to glow bright and soon the large monsters wolfs that have answered his call would begin to glow as well. The ice of the wolfs soon began to fall off like pies of armor and a mist began to form around them.
Both groups of wolfs have vanished in a small patch of mist that began to move inwards towards the guardians. One might have think they have vanish but those with kin and sharp eyes would see differently, inside the mist with sharp eyes one could see the transparent silhouette of canines inside the mist, they dint look bulky like once with ice around there body but thin,fragile and slender instead. These creatures seem to strip the ice on there bodies to create these cold thick fogs to both hide in snow regions but as well ambush there prey. The Watcher and its wolfs inhabit snow covered areas and are rather difficult to spot one, they usually hang out in high snow mountain peeks using the mist to hide as the Watcher for name sake, keeps eye like a sentinel and when it spots a target, summons its wolfs to hunt it down. But this time they seem to have become rather offensive, a Watcher would never appear in these tempered regions and most of all approach a city.

(Y'all can decide itch group you face! this is the last time i control them, you can make them turn back with there ice armor,or not, all up to you! enjoy! )
Pyosimros Rantos Trompe lOeil RoninN7

Its mysterious for those who have seen a Watcher, one being here and decide to attack a city as its not the norm for these monsters as they hang out in the back to kill humans who travel to far or try to escape other monsters.
The alpha soon after began to charge forward towards one of the wooden buildings. Sinking his claws deep and tearing to splinters as he began to clime up to get a better view and see these guardians for himself. The mist was noticeable as from the rooftop he could clearly see the two patch of mist as they began to follow the scent of the split team. from up here he could observe where his wolfs travel too, and soon enough when they find them, he will make a appearance. Xalxel wished to know them, so he must witness combat and there capabilities in order to have worthy info.

XalXel's Monster keeping

Xalxel stood in the monster realm in his true demon form, doing his work. Monsters snarl at each other, creatures of all kind inhabit the realm and it as his mission and the other two demons to maintain control. Yelling orders, swatting creatures and stomping in fury he showed monsters that unacceptable behavior wont be tolerated. As ferocious and strong he as there was always a bothersome thorn to settle down, a Wyrm like creature flew and grapple on to one of Xalxel's horns, he roared in anger grabbing it by its leg and hurling it away. His stomp feet presses on to the creatures tail and pin it down, his voice could be heard miles away in the empty realm as he angrily set order. Soon enough when all seemed calm, his pet, a Wyvern like creature settle on his shoulder and made multiple clicking noises. "There my child, order is at foot" His sight looked forward, wondering when his watcher will arrive.

 

[Trompe lOeil]

(I am so sorry!! I swear I only saw one reply the last time I checked. Then today I was like, "huh, I wonder if my roleplay really did die" and it didn't, I just haven't replied in days??? Anyway, I will keep a much closer eye on this in the future! Great writing, everybody >.>)

Ira was right. Janissa was glad she'd decided to trust him with this role. She hadn't been sure about him - in truth, he'd seemed like raw talent in a lazy shell - but he was proving to be a worthy addition to the Guardians. Sometimes you needed to give people enough space to shine, she supposed.

Janissa nodded. "Good idea. Keep up," she said curtly to the four guards, shouldering her bow. She took a moment to glance at each of her Guardians. "Be careful. Don't over extend yourselves. And...try fire." One of them should have inherited fire magic, right? She couldn't think of another element that would have red light as its symbol. In any case, it didn't have to be magical fire. If these wolves were made of ice, it seemed like an obvious first step.

She turned on her heel and made for the nearest staircase. The Beggar's Quarter was cramped, with all but the biggest streets narrow and cluttered. With so many people displaced and moving into the district, the builders hadn't been able to build out, so they'd built up. Most buildings were two or three stories at least, with towering structures attached to the sides of the city walls, house after house stacked on top of one another. Some buildings were only accessible via external wooden staircases. It was one such structure that Janissa made for now.

After a few rickety flights Janissa climbed onto a rooftop, surveying the ground below. She could see a group of four wolves headed toward the street corner they'd just been at. They must have been sent after her Guardians. She prayed that they'd manage. Scanning the district, Janissa could see the chaos that the wolves had caused. Debris in the street, crumpled bodies lining the walls, grim-faced militia members trying to hold back the monsters.

She couldn't afford to delay any longer. Janissa dropped her quiver to the ground in front of her, quickly sorting through the arrows. She selected an arrow, adopted a wide stance, and readied her bow. Then she pulled out flint and steel, lit the arrow on fire, and knocked it to her bow.

Janissa selected a target, a wolf running down the street after a young couple. She loosed her arrow and it landed in the crook of the beast's neck, causing it to stagger. It howled and briefly lost its balance. A normal arrow through the top of its head did the rest of the job. She wasn't sure if the fire arrow had helped, but she was going to use as many as she had.

A flicker of movement caught her eye. A wolf on the rooftops. Wait, that was no wolf. It was humanoid, and despite the distance between them she could tell it was huge. Still made of ice, but it stood on two feet, wielding large, sharp claws and a shield in one hand. It was out of range, but Janissa paled all the same. "Keep an eye on that thing," she ordered the guards, pointing. It must be in command. Janissa had had the same idea, after all. Get up high to get a view of the battle. The fact that the wolves had a leader at all was cause for worry. She'd need to know what it did.

Pyosimros Rantos GrieveWriter RoninN7 Yonsisac The One Eyed Bandit

 

[The One Eyed Bandit]

A more willful woman might have taken issue with a stranger ordering her around as this Ira fellow was, but following orders was par the course for Alanna. Whether they came from a Queen or a a nameless vagabond, all she asked was that they were reinforced by either currency or confidence.

This would-be companion had the latter resounding in his voice, so she'd have her sword at his side.

Recovered from the shock of the cave's collapse, she fell in pace with the man as he rushed towards the commotion that overtook the city. This magic that'd been bestowed upon them would be tested in fire, she supposed. She dashed behind the man and took in the pandemonium that was unfolding. Still no sight of the enemy, but as they entered the Beggar's Quarter their wrath was apparent. The typical sounds of chaos was the first thing to come. The masses screaming and calling for help. Soon accompanied by the blood of those who tried to defend their fellow man. Bravery awarded with death, something she was all too familiar with. Hopefully she, with this supposed magic at her side, could break that cycle.

Luckily, she knew this area well. Calling a notice of warning, Alanna broke off from Ira's lead and took to the rooftops. Scaling a stack of crates, hoisting herself atop a balcony, and finally scrambling up whatever footholds she could find in the decrepit walls of the Quarter, it only took her a minute to find a proper vantage point.

Up here the suffering that flooded the slums was all the more apparent. The stampede of footsteps ran clear and true through the air, fleeing for their lives from an unknowable foe. Alanna felt neither fury nor pity, only a reinforced will to move. Her eyes and ears scanned for a moment, before locking onto what'd seem like a more peaceful sect of the city. It lacked both the sound of feet and screams, but it was replaced by something else. Heavy. Large. Inhuman, perhaps. Slipping from her perch with immediacy, Alanna took flight along the rooftops towards that abnormality.

Soon enough, it would prove to be a wise choice.

It was impossible to miss. A colossal hound, wreathed in ice and doing battle with one lone woman. How long she'd been holding it there or how she'd even managed it, Alanna had no idea. But she was thankful. Keeping it occupied no doubt saved a fair share of lives, and afforded her the element of surprise. She'd be sure to take advantage of it. Thanks to the icy white of the beast, it was easy enough to decide how. She leapt from the rooftops, her sword flashed a streak of silver, and she descended upon the wolf as a hunter upon prey. Blade sunk into flesh, and the beast's remaining eye was painted a red to match its destroyed twin. Then, she parroted the words the woman had spoken only moments ago.

"Run." Though rather than a yell, a voice icier than even the beast that threatened them rose to deliver.

Rantos

 

[RoninN7]

Mention: Pyosimros

The collapse of the cave was more than a little problematic for Tristan, since he was still recovering from the ritual that he and the other Guardians underwent. Once they made it out, instead of getting a chance to rest there came even more bad news: beasts were attacking the city. Despite how tired and confused Tristan felt, his adrenaline managed to carry him all the way to the ongoing chaos. Tristan could hear the screaming and crashing of footsteps on the ground as people ran from the threat.

Before Tristan could recollect himself, one of the Guardians, Ira, had assigned partners and taken off with another guardian. Tristan looked towards his "companion" and nodded at her excited call to action before following close behind her. It was frustrating to Tristan to be able to hear all of the commotion but to still be too far away from it. The closer they got to the action, the more things Tristan could make out through his hearing. Lowering his body and breaking into much wider strides, Tristan pulled away to the right of his companion's path. He quickly leaped over a merchant's post that had been destroyed and finally found himself in the fray.

The scene that played out before Tristan was one that he was all too familiar with: total chaos. There were people running as fast as they could, others attempting to fight off the creatures that had manifested in the city wall. As was to be expected, many of these people failed to survive their encounters with the beasts, and ended up laying down their life for those they were defending. While Tristan trusted that his own combat experience would be enough to dispatch any natural threat that could present itself, the creature that he saw chasing down a wounded man certainly wasn't natural.

It was a huge wolf-looking monster covered in ice, exuding an aura of hatred. It soon became clear to Tristan that his human abilities might not be enough to stop this thing, so he hoped that whatever magic he was given, it would change his odds of success. A desperate yell violently pulled Tristan out of his thoughts and into reality. He noticed the man holding a broken sword up to the creatures snout, trying desperately to hold it at bay. If Tristan hadn't been in that situation, he would've taken time to admire the man's resilience in fighting back against the beast with a gash that tore through his left shoulder.

Without taking time to process anything, Tristan lunged at the beast with all his strength and delivered a perfectly placed right knee to the beast's temple. This strike managed to knock the creature off-balance for a moment, which allowed the wounded man enough time to run continue making his escape, a strangled shout escaping his mouth as he attempted to thank Tristan. Tristan quickly pivoted on his right leg and spun rapidly, delivering a second strike to the beast's head, a left heel kick this time.

The second strike was slightly more successful, forcing the creature to recoil and take two steps back to regain its bearings. Tristan's knee and foot felt almost completely numb as a result of the biting cold of the hound's frozen armor. With the few seconds that Tristan had bought himself, he violently shook both of his legs to regain feeling as quickly as possible. It didn't take long for the wolf to recover and realize what had happened, and who the culprit was. Its icy gaze fell on Tristan, filled with the primal rage of a hungry predator looking at an animal that dared trespass in its territory.

Tristan quickly realized what he had gotten himself into, as well as the fact that he wouldn't be able to get out without a fight. Somehow, this thought made Tristan feel excited, as a child would when his friends challenged him to a race. He felt eager to learn what powers he'd been granted by this ritual, and he felt eager to use those powers and defeat the attackers. His body quickly began to warm up, until Tristan was sure he could feel steam coming out of his body from all of his sweat being evaporated on his heating body. He was unsure of whether this was a good thing, or a bad thing, but he felt energized and ready to put it all on the line.

(So here's my post... only took me like a month but it's finally here!)

 

[Rantos]

Ure Lilly
Beggars Quater
And so, welcome death. Yet, not with apprehension, Ure would welcome it with a smile. In the end, her useless body could serve once more and for that she was grateful. Ure dropped her blade, let it fall and clank against blood paved cobble, and welcomed cold death with eyes closed. How long did she wait? It felt as if it was an eternity. In the dark, she wondered if she was already dead. The answer came in form of a howl, a pained scream, yet not her own. Upon opening her eyes, Ure was greeted with the sight of another, a woman, standing between herself and the beast. A woman who, with a voice more rending than any claw, told her to run.

She wanted to stay. She wanted to pick up the knife and stay by her side. She wanted to be more than useless. Yet, in the end, all Ure could do was run. Her body defied her screaming will, yet she did not slow. Faster, faster. She ran. Further, further. She ran. Against her will, she ran without destination and without pause. She was given a chance at life, she had to survive, lest squander the gift that woman had given to her. She had to run.

Ira Graves
Beggars Quater - On da streets
Tags: The One Eyed Bandit
Things seemed to already be shaping up poorly for Ira. Already he was convinced he had made the wrong choice in partner. It became almost impossible to keep up with his partner as soon as she took to the rooftops. He kept up as fast as he could on the ground, squeezing through alleys, bounding over obstructions and evading the stampeding masses to the best of his ability. She seemed to be making a beeline, so at least Ira could figure out the destination to a point. He just hoped that she would be able to take care of herself until he caught up.

Though the flood, though the chaos, Ira made his way. Never, in all of his days of being a good for nothing knight, had Ira ever seen such carnage. These beasts were stronger than the usual riff-raff to enter the walls. Yet Ira wasn't surprised. This day was bound to happen. Ira only wished it would have happened once he retired from being a knight. To think he would have to put his training to use. To think that so many lives were counting on the four of them to win this battle. A weight such as lives of the innocent is a hefty one indeed, and one Ira was honored to carry. Even if it was a drag.

By the time Ira had caught up, his partner was already engaged with the beast. Ira found himself behind the monster that was facing his partner. The beast was only a few yards away and closing in on the woman. Thinking fast, Ira looked to his surroundings, and upon looking at a pile of rubble remembered the mural. The mural depicted the guardians using their abilities. He remembered one such ability being domain over the earth they tread. It gave Ira an idea, it was crazy, but it just may work.

With a heave and a ho Ira lifted a considerable chunk of rock and threw it towards the beast. Ira threw it high, so that gravity would do most of the work. The rock made impact and shattered on the monster's back. The blind beast turned to face it's new attacker, only to be meet by Ira's sword. A horizontal slash that took some of its face armor clean off. Ira rebalanced himself and struck again before the monster could make heads or tails of the situation. He struck the exposed portion of its face, the force of the swing sending the blade deep into its head. Ira pulled away and readied himself for the beast to attack, only to watch as it went limp. Ira caught his breath, both those swings took everything he had just to break through once. Not to mention, if it wasn't blind it could have dodged the first. Though breaths, Ira spoke to the woman who seemed to be leading the charge.

"Try not to move so fast, I might lose sight of ya. These old bones don't move so quick anymore. Now, while we have a moment of peace, do you feel you have a grasp on your power?" As the two talked, Ira would suggest the idea that he could take front lines while she tried to figure out how to use her abilities. Which hopefully, would be soon.