Take Back the Crown


"No, I'm fine." He said, side glancing at Ayda, "I'm--" He was about to continue, but noticed Oceana stirring. "Oceana." He said trying to get her attention, "Are you all right?"


@OlKaJa77 @QueenSaiko
​
 
Oceana hissed out a pained breath, trying her hardest not to sob.


She looked into Hjalmar's eyes, her own blazing like blue flames. The elf reached up and gripped the thief's hand.


Hard.


As if she might get washed away in a flood of her own tears.


Turning to look at Svetlana and finally Ayda.


"I'm alright" she whispered almost inaudibly, staring into the human girl's gaze.


Tears rolled silently down her cheeks and when she turned her head away to squint them away one slid over her lip into her mouth.


It wasn't salty... But bittersweet


@QueenSaiko @Lo Alyssa
 
Tetra stepped back into the shadows and prepared to follow the group. (She will be silent observer for a bit. I am fleshing out her backstory and also redesigning her powers to scale them down a bit. Should be done today or tommorow)
 

Phaedra was amazed by the underground vault that had kept the crown safe all these years. Sometimes, magic lost its luster and shine in her eyes due to her being so accustomed to it, but it was the few things like this that would restore that bit of wide-eyed astonishment in the craft. It had faded just a tinge once the princess dawned on them the reality that their quest was only just beginning.

It really never was that simple, was it? Thankfully, Phaedra wasn't really expecting it to be, so she didn't even feel remotely disappointed at the fact. It was just like in the stories - an epic quest before them to join the world together against a common foe through the use of a powerful magic relic that first needed to be pieced together. No, Phaedra wasn't disappointed. She was excited, though it may not have shown considering her weakened state.

She played the quiet observer with Bo at her side, thankful for his steady presence, then followed Svetlana and Lucasta back up the staircase, to which they were greeted by an awful lot of ruckus. Phaedra took some comfort in that it seemed to be resolved by the time they arrived and there was no blood drawn. It seemed to her - from her brief assessment - that the suspicion that Oceana held had led to the situation escalating to this point. While she was grateful for Oceana's intuition and her knowledge, it looked like because Oceana was often so sure of herself, she refused to see fault in her own ideas, thoughts, and actions until it was too late. A shame.

Phaedra decided at this time to continue being the quiet observer, sticking close to Bo. She hated to be clingy, but it was necessary. One day, she thought, she would do something to show her gratitude for him.​
 
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Hjalmar didn't mind the tight squeeze, he mustered a smile. He put his other hand under her back to help her sit up now that she was awake. "We're gonna be leaving soon." He said, "Lucasta found the crown."


"Yes." Svetlana said, sitting back, panting a bit from all the magic she was using at the same time. They needed to get out of there soon, the barrier was eating her mana each second, and the longer they stayed, the more she would need to build back up later. She stood up and was about to explain how their journey was just lengthened, but found herself cry out in pain as something rammed into her barrier, cracking it. She fell to her knees again like she was just given a great weight. Something or someone was psychically trying to break her barrier, and it were succeeding. She was hit again, but this time she couldn't hold it back. Her viridescent shield shattered in a deafening boom and she was knocked back several feet (having been the one who cast it). The aura came flooding back inside, but this time it was far more potent than before. Shadows flashed across the walls, smoke seeped through the cracks of the floor they stood upon, malicious whispers echoed through out the hall. There was an overwhelming presence in the room, one that brought every person standing to their knees, their heads spinning, the air around them became vile and hard to breathe in.


A deep laugh sounded in the hall, followed by a resounding gravelly voice, "Well, well..." The male voice sounded, rattling their chests with its power, "The young princess has returned to her castle... I must say, I did not see that coming... You were always such a cowardly child growing up. To think you've come all the way here, even with the assistance, is impressive." The room seemed to shake as he spoke, dust fell from the ceiling as the building struggled to hold itself together. The voice did not need to say who it belonged to, everyone already knew... It was Kvacht. "Do you really think you stand a chance against me with the help of some inferior feckless mortal weaklings?" He laughed again, truly sounding entertained. "They fight amongst themselves and quake at my projected voice. I am not even there in person! Yet even the strongest fall to their knees in fear... I think you and I both know that this is a pointless, lost cause, my dear dear Lucasta. I am sure you are aware it will only lead to your ultimate death and this world's undoing." Lucasta held tightly to the satchel which held the crown, clamping her eyes shut, "But... I am amused by your desperate efforts. So for now, I shall play along." The voice chuckled before dissipating. Even though the place returned to the state it was once in, it was relieving to bask in the aura of the remnants of dark magic in comparison to Kvacht's subduing spirit.


Svetlana managed to prop herself up with the wall behind her and stand, despite the mental attack she had sustained, "We need to get out of here. Now!" She yelled at them, "Get to your feet, move!" She limped towards the wagons, they would discuss plans later, outside of the city.
​
 
Foxrun immediately noticed this Oceana had they called her? Awake from whatever state she was previously in, yet something different had taken affect now. He approached slightly "may I?" He asked, hesitant to get too close. Then he explained why he was to approach "I owe you an apology as well. You are all under such high stress. I should not have added to your own struggles. For causing this." He gestured to her "I am truly sorry."


@OlKaJa77
 
Lucasta's heart wouldn't stop racing. Sweat quickly formed on her head, and her breath was short. She looked around at the others, and followed Svetlana's example. "Get in the wagons, quickly!" She pushed the closest of her comrades towards the wagons in desperation to get out of there. The presence of Kvacht was overwhelming, and made her feel terribly sick. "Please. Please get to the wagons..." She spoke weakly, as if the encounter weakened her. She stumbled toward a wagon, and quickly hopped in, cradling herself in her arms.
 
Garrett quickly sprung to action, surprising situations like these almost second nature to him. He quickly ran off to help everyone get to the wagons, making sure no-one would be left behind.
 
FLIGHT. NOT FIGHT. Not now, anyway. Feeling the urgency of the princess and Svetlana's orders, Bo stood up quickly, looking down at Phaedra, who was now pulled back into the dark presence of this place. He didn't think twice before scooping her up in his arms and running over to the wagon, placing her in there. He felt sick to his stomach, but mustered up all of his willpower to try and help anyone who was struggling to get out of there before jumping on his horse to get away.
 
Foxrun, eager to prove he could help, decided to take after Garret's lead and lend a hand in helping people up into the wagons, like those who still felt the pressure of the overbearing darkness and we're drained enough as it was. @L1d1ja
 
Tetra listened to Kvacht speak motionlessly. When he finished she threw back her head and laughed quietly. At first it sounded hysterical and high pitched but it slowly got deeper and darker as well as louder. It ended on a loud note that was deeper than any human throat could produce, and louder than humans could shout. She grinned widely and ran over leaping up onto the seat of the wagon and offering a hand to help Svetlana up. @Lo Alyssa (the reasons are in the new cs :3)
 
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Valeiah clamped her hands over her ears as deafening voice raked through the room. The room itself was darker too, she could definitely feel the energy now. She actually had to hold back from throwing up. If felt like she was being turned inside out. When Svetlana yelled for them to run out of the room she didn't hestitate.


As she was running, she tripped over a rock and went tumbling. She wished she had the same gracefulness and balance she did when climbing trees. When she fell, she felt a sharp pain, then a warm numbness in her knee. It was sliced open, badly. But the adrenaline coursing through her managed to get her back up and stumbling to the carts.
 
(Sorry for being inactive, I've been studying for exams)


Nameen had sunk down, bored and silent despite the chaos unfolding around her. Despite having managed to tune everyone out, the princess's alarming orders rang through her head. She leapt to her feet with her blade in hand and her head on a swivel, trying to spot the danger.


What was going on? She opened her ears, listening in on the voices of the others, trying to glean some information. Being kept in the dark was one thing that Nameen was bothered by greatly.


Focus, be ready for anything.


She took off towards the wagons, following the princess's lead.
 
Observing the hullabaloo the returning group was making as they, Pip wondered what all the fuss was about. He had felt a strange presence while waiting on the front seat of the wagon but thought nothing of it, until now.


What is wrong?! Pip thought to himself as the group vaulted into the wagon. I guess my introduction will have to wait- again... Pity.


Increasing the weight and density of his stone body, Pip prepared for the worst. Whatever the trouble was, it was going to be a bump ride!
 

It was a strange, terrifying feeling.

She was bound to the element of air and yet, she could not breathe. She was choking on the thick miasma of evil that had brute forced its way past Svetlana's barrier and Phaedra was left gasping for breath. She quickly fell unconscious, already weakened from their approach into the castle. All she could see was inky blackness - dark visions blinding her - and heard echoes of the deep, forceful, rumbling voice that she knew was pure evil. Even unconscious, she shivered from the lingering memory.

She promised that she would not be caught off guard again and here she was. Phaedra needed rest. She would try again tomorrow.

Though she was not awake to see him action, Phaedra still felt the warm energy of Bo. He felt panicked and, soon, he drifted away from her. Despite this, she knew that she was safe. She was sure her friend had not left her behind.​
 
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Oceana faintly felt bad for Foxrun. Vaguely.


She thought she felt more vomit pour out of her mouth and onto the fey's legs as he tried to help her but she couldn't tell.


Her entire world was underwater, everything was blurred and muffled.


She felt like she was drifting in the ocean.


Heh... Ocean she thought vaguely, amused.


"Immmm the oceaaaan..." She whispered, as she was gently bobbed on her back on the wagons as they trotted away from the palace at a panicked pace.


A single line of blood dribbled out of her nose as she sank into unconsciousness again.


@GalacticRam
 
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Bo followed close behind the wagon, keeping an eye on Phaedra the whole time as they rushed out of there. She was out. (So was Oceana.)


(sorry this is really short, blah)
 
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Foxrun made an odd face at the delirious elf and her utterance if words. Yet made sure she got safely into a wagon. He then climbed up after her. This had heavily affected the group, yet it would be much worse if they did not leave for sure. It still had a high probability of turning for the worse. Glancing back, he noticed the one who had tripped, he jerked as if to get up but then she managed to pick herself back up, instead he called her over and offered to help her climb up as well.


@OlKaJa77 @Danika
 
Valeiah got into the cart as well, with some help from the Foxrun guy. She didn't even notice her knee until she looked at it and saw blood leaking from the wound at a steady pace. "God damn it." She mumbled under her breath. "Thanks." She then said to Foxrun.


@GalacticRam
 
He nodded at her thanks, noticing the knee as well. Then looking around at the others who were either hurt or weakened. They'll seemed drained to some extent. It was becoming more apparent by the second just How important this was to each of them. As well as how much it took out of them. And now you as well. He thought with a slight sigh yet he would not take it back, even after the frightening voice projection of sorts.


@Danika @OlKaJa77 @Lo Alyssa @TeeKay
 
Valeiah grabbed out some the bandages she had brought and started wrapping her knee. Almost as soon as she put them on, they were soaked in blood. Her skirt was all bloody too. "I wish I could heal myself." She said to no one in particular.
 
The darkness that had filled the castle when the barrier broke completely shattered Thora. Beforehand, the darkness of the castle was enough to make her nauseous and her head spin. Now her ears were drowned with Kvacht's words and a loud, violent ringing. The nymph felt life sucked out of her, literally. Dryads had a very long life expectancy and she felt herself lose hundreds of years, like a baby tree that had just sprung into a sequoia in just seconds. Dark circles surrounded her eyes and her usually voluminous hair grew flat and lifeless.


The dark aura filled her body like lead and made it heavy to move. But she made her way out of the castle and, by some miracle, made it on to her horse. The group's well-being was far from her mind at the moment and she was gone. She held onto the dark mane of her steed and distanced herself from the castle at the fastest pace the horse could manage. She couldn't stop or she felt like she might suffocate and so she rode and kept riding.


(sorry for the late reply, I was at work)
 
Once again Oceana lay trapped in a dream.


A dark, dark vision of her own despair.


She was adrift underwater, light was far above her and she swished deeper into the inky blackness.


Her limbs were lead, immovable, sinking her into the sea.


Her thoughts were dulled and she watched herself slip into the deep impassively.


Suddenly there was a flash of something beneath her.


She willed herself to sink faster, closer.


Curious.


There, in the swirling depths was a head of blond hair.


The elf's eyes widened just slightly and she begged her limbs to move.


Kígyó!


She swam agonizingly slowly toward the pale, fair haired form of the human woman.


Reaching out, Oceana reached out to touch one freckled cheek.


Kígyó...


Her face snapped up at a speed that shouldn't have been possible underwater. Her eyes were black pits and her mouth was full of shark-like teeth, grinning maliciously.


The elf recoiled and she tried swimming back, away...


But once again her limbs were lead.


Tendrils of slimy darkness curled around her legs and torso, pulling her closer to the sham of a human.


Oceana desperately struggled, suddenly needing air and distance from this creature.


The thing cocked its head and smiled even wider.


"What's wrong, Oceana?" It said, mockingly "Do you not love me anymore?"


The elf squirmed harder but the tentacles of darkness only squeezed harder.


She tried to speak but all that came out were bubbles.


"Join me, my love." The abomination cooed. "Stay here and drown forever with me."


The elf tried to scream when the thick ribbons of nothingness crushed her, bones snapping.


More bubbles.


"Die here with me."


A sick smile abruptly burst forth on Oceana's lips, eyes burning into those pits of black smugly.


"But I havenae killed you yet, my dear"





Suddenly she could breathe again.


Her mouth tasted like copper and her head throbbed in pain but she was awake. Alive.


She opened her eyes little by little until she spotted the face of Valeiah, rocking along as they hurried down the road again.


@Danika @GalacticRam @Lo Alyssa
 
"Hey. You okay? You had a pretty nasty time in that castle. I had it bad when I was running away from it." She snorted. "You probably don't feel like talking, but is there anything I can help with? Any cuts or whatever? I need to get my mind off my own." She obviously looked in pain, but Oceana looked way worse. She wanted to help the elf, even if she didn't know her name.


@OlKaJa77
 
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