Vault Hunters (Finished~)

[Zer0]

- Moss Adamaris -
" Gaius "​

Quick small hands gently putting his head down . . . cloth tugging at his neck, slinging his arm . . . Moss stirred awake in the dim darkness . . . floor echoing with the muffled sounds of machinery . . .

'Towari hatasei mic'hatasei tsufrallai . . .'

"Isa?" he coughed weakly .

A small hand covered his mouth immediately. "Shhh. No, Moss, it's me L. And I'm not sure if that's Isa. Just stay still and don't make a sound, okay? I'll investigate it after I treat you and Leonid. " whispered the little gnome calmly. Moss was in a haze, he had so many questions, but L's hands were trembling, he understood that there was danger, so he kept quiet. Her silhouette under the dim hooded lantern light moved away to another body beside him. Gold loops glinted under the light, dangling from purple horns. Leonid. His chest was rising and falling gently. A small wave of relief washed over Moss. Leonid was alright.

'Otrajain aforeje kurasolda . . .'

Gradually the haze cleared. And then he remembered. Slowly dread rose like bile up Moss' throat . . . Isa was outside when Avion and Pelagia slammed Gaius down. Was he alright? That was him singing, right?

Slowly he got up. "L, what happened? L? Tell me why you're trembling." he whispered.

"No, if I do, you will run there. Lie down, Moss, and shhhh."

"L." He said with all his heart. "Please."

L looked at him. How could she refuse that face? "Isa fought Theosebia alone. I don't know why he's singing, I think it may be a trap."

L was right: Moss bolted towards the voice.

"Moss!" she hissed. "You --- ughhh." She hastened what she was doing, and then her footsteps raced after him.

Moss saw the signs of battle, as he climbed lower down the goliath's body. The bloody drag marks, hundreds of red hand prints. He slowed to a crouch when he came closer to the tunnel where Isa's voice was coming from, and L caught up. "Darn your long legs --- and at least bring a weapon, Moss." she whispered, handing him his flintlock pistol.

"Thank you." That made Moss suddenly aware that he actually forgot to bring his gear, but there was no time now. "And your right, L, this could be a trap . . ." He started, listening for any weirdness that would betray Theosebia. He wondered how to approach this without the top half of his armor and most of his things.

"Then let me go first, injured person." She went ahead of him and looked at him sternly. "Isa wouldn't want anything to happen to you, be mindful of that. Don't rush to save him if you're just going to be reckless and end up dying, you ninny." She took out her spell book.

Chastised and kind of grateful, Moss just nodded meekly and followed after the gnome.

And then they saw the soft glow of lights seeping through the hallway that heralded the chamber. That wasn't fake.

Creeping forward, they finally saw Isa, and their eyes widened. He was surrounded by carnage, but under the glow of the golden lights, with the guiding spirits and the soft singing of him and his mother, a kind of peaceful melancholy hung in the air. Moss understood in an instant. He had defeated Theosebia, and he was helping the souls of that age move on. "Isa." Relief and worry flooded into him.

Chink, chink, chink

Tiny soul shards were starting to drizzle down from the stream of golden lights. Moss rushed through them and held Isa's hand, carefully drawing him into a hug with his good arm. "We're okay, where are you hurt?"

Meanwhile, the little gnome had been staring at the lights before they disappeared, and there was a . . . a look of disappointment on her face? Like there was something that she wanted to do, but now she lost some kind of opportunity and was lost. Then she shook her head, and hurried over to Isa, little chinks clattering on the floor as she stepped on what seemed to be hundreds upon hundreds of soul shards.

"Isa please sit down. Moss, please help me remove his armor." Moss moved aside, squeezed Isa's hand for a moment, smiling at him in relief, teal eyes on indigo blues, before proceeding to help him out of his armor. L took out her trauma kit from her hair and began to check hia vitals, before fixing up his wounds.

"Friends . . . " slurred Leonid's voice from the hallway. The tiefling came stumbling in. "Don't leave me behind. I have such a headache . . . Did we win?"

Moss smiled at him. "Yes we did." Armor off, he held Isa's hand again. He let L do her work, but Isa can tell Moss was rearing to hug and fuss over him. He looked like he had many questions too, but was witholding.

Katsuya

- Beneath the Golden Dome -
"Round 5"​

The remaining red one looked back, as Lilith shoved the black robed one's corpse aside. Warring in its eyes were dread and realization versus anger and the hardened edge to survive. Still in pain, it grabbed its staff, and searing green flames blasted over Lilith.

Then the monster shot up into the steam, screeching. "Broavheruk! ayh lat yourukelveuk? nauk-avreaav avo avhe kub! kulknej muukav eukcape!"

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Fiery explosions flashed in the curtain of steam and the air was filled with the death cries of the drows, as the last katulus screeched over them. Their voices went further and further upwards and away.

Now alone on the black dais, it was shrouded by an illusion of gold and white stars, that upon close inspection, were shining magic circles surrounded by ancient runes. A dark orb sat on the center, and seemed to be stuck, though it could be turned. Upon its surface was a vision of the golden dome against the night sky. And it was slowly rising into the air, leaving behind trails of metal and debris.

It was ancient, yet as unyielding as stone when struck, though its texture was like that of a giant bone, and its dull clang made it seem like it was made of some black metal.

Spoiler: Battle

Steam is acting as a smoke screen, immediately putting everyone in bottom engine in "hide" status with a passive Stealth = 10+Larceny, and giving -2 to Find rolls. While "hidden", they are immune to single target attacks. A successful "Find" roll with a DC 14 using Knowledge will reveal all katulus in the current area to Lilith.

East Upper Engine

East Bottom Engine (Shrouded in steam)

1. Red Katulu ---> major action: missed attacking Lilith ---> minor action: floated to central floor.
   1 Hp | Toughness 12
   +4 to rolls
   
   
2. Dark Robed Katulu (revealed)--->?
   1 Hp | Toughness 12
   +4 to rolls
   
   
3. Green Katulu ---> ?
   1 Hp | Toughness 12
   +4 to rolls
   
   
4. Purple Katulu --->?
   1 Hp | Toughness 12
   +4 to rolls
   
   
5. Orange Katulu --->?
   1 Hp | Toughness 12
   +4 to rolls

Central Floor

North Blockaded Door

South Wall

1. Grey Katulu ---> ? Steam prevents sight

West Wall

1. Brown Katulu --->? Steam prevents sight

Ian Temero

- Golden Dome -
" Rising"​

Blooms of green blazes glowed upon the staffs of the katulus, and loud cries from the allies resounded: "Fireballs! Rear, take cover!"

But it never came. To their surprise, it never came.

The flames shrunk and vanished. The monsters' tentacles writhed in astonishment and anger. There was a loud screech and they spread out, searching high over the battlefield.

Suddenly there were ear piercing shrieks all around them. The katulus staggered in the air. They screeched at each other in their harsh tongue, before they quickly fled over the dome roof, abandoning the battle? At the same time all around Charon there were cries of, "Stop! Stop!"; "We surrender!"; "Company ceasefire!"; "We're not your enemy, we were being controlled!"

The absentminded looks the Templars had earlier was gone, replaced by anger, confusion and they were fighting defensively now, refusing to kill and we're trying to surrender. Shaara yelled over the hubub "Stop fighting! Templars throw down your weapons you will not be harmed!"

A wave of confusion rippled across the battlefield mixed with the shock of the dome and its surrounding areas flying higher and higher into the night sky, until gradually the fighting stopped. One of the Templars, his armor more regal than the rest, stepped forward and immediately conversed with Shaara.

"Listen there is no time, we have to destroy the engine blade before they use the goliaths to kill the Ancient of the Void!"

The doors of the dome were opened and they came upon more confused Templars who said the same thing: that they were hoodwinked by a horrible green monster with many arms, many eyes and spoke with the voices of women, and an old man, a mage with orange eyes named Manuel, who was wanted for soul stealing in The Highlands, that they were trying to kill the Void Ancient and have already opened the portal.

Quickly they headed for the Engine Blade chamber, passing by workshops and crossing bridges that spanned over deep shafts that led down to giant smelting pots. But then there was a mighty gust of wind from the west, and a shadow passed over the dome.

"Avion!" whispered many. There was a heavy thud that made the floor quake, and in the distance there was a loud crash. Their going became more cautious until they came upon the doors of the main chamber. It was barricaded shut, and upon inspection seemed to be reinforced with a powerful protective enchantment.

Sisyphus Happy

Spoiler: Battle

Feel free to control your squad. Charon still has his own separate turn.

1. Templar Squad ---> Now allies
   3/3 Hp | Toughness 16
   +4 to rolls
   Special: Attacks twice
   
   
2. Katulus ---> Fled
   2/2 Hp | Toughness 12
   +4 to rolls
   Special: Spells
   
   
3. Charon's Squad
   4/5 Hp | Toughness 16
   +3 to rolls
   Special: Attacks twice

 

[Katsuya]

- Isa Bianchi -
“Gaius”​

Isa smiled, relief flooding in his chest as he tenderly squeezed Moss’ hand, and leaned in the one armed hug. Taking a deep breath of his scent and quietly nuzzled the merman’s shoulder. “My side, legs, and neck. Last two is bruised, I think. The stitches became undone though.” He mumbled his reply, peeking up to see Moss’ face and L’s as the golden lights faded away with teary eyes. He stared quietly, observing the disappointment on her face. He quickly hid his face into Moss’ shoulder before L could notice his observation, nodding as he let Moss help him sit down on the floor that’s becoming covered of soul shards. Sniffling silently —or tried, but he couldn’t help a few sniffles being a little loud.

Moss is walking! And okay! And talking! There’s no hole-

Well yes, he saw the severe injury heal after the potion but- Still! The worry and anxiety wreaked him! There was a moment that Isa couldn’t see the wound healing. All he saw in that moment was losing the only happiness he has in this mortal realm and his reason to live . . .

The redhead sighed as he leaned back a bit, still within Moss’ arm length, but sitting still. He shuddered as the light dyed armor was pulled off with his shirt pulled up, revealing the undone stitches and bleeding side. “Sorry about the stitches, I started to feel pain after Gaius fell, and saw Theosebia come this way. I couldn’t tend to myself.” Isa explained to L as she checked his vitals. “I had to tend to Moss and Leonid first . . .”

He gazed at the merman, a hand reaching out to gently rub on his side and stomach. “Ya had a hole here. Gave ya a potion . . . Leonid was bleeding from his head. Did first aid as best as I could. Had to keep ya two safe from Theosebia.” Isa was pretty out of it from manna exhaustion and hunger, wanting to sleep soon. Yet he knew he couldn’t. So he will talk until he stopped feeling tired. He snapped his head up at the sound of a man’s voice, alarmed and reached out to hold Moss close defensively, until he saw it was Leonid. So he relaxed and leaned back a bit again. “Hi, Leonid~ Nice to see ya awake again~ Oh, I took your kunai, Moss.” Isa reached behind him and pulled out Moss’ obsidian kunai.

”It helped.” Isa mumbled, looking up at the merman again. That’s when he noticed Moss’ eager face and smiled warmly. Unable to help himself, he decided to ask—he already knew what Moss wanted to know, but still he will ask. “Yes, Moss~?” He teased lightly, squeezing his hand again after Moss held his.

Zer0

 

[Sisyphus Happy]

Health: Fresh | Toughness: Background Ability (10) + Armor (1) [11] | Spell Power: Background Ability (14) + Knowledge (4) + Equipment (1) [19] |Manna: Background Ability (4) + Knowledge (4) [4/8]
Condition: 0 | Roleplay Points: 0

Χάρων ​

A sense of relief took the boatman when those green flames faded, Charon stopped their unsteady trot. It would have readied itself for another fireball but it seems the tentacled creatures were not inclined to continue fighting as a result of some -- he could only assume -- psychic event given the unison of their cries. It took only a moment to inhale deeply, listening to the call to end the battle. The blood splashed across the sand gave it only another moment of pause. A low growl emanated from the boatman. Where before there was utmost care taken in the moves they made, Charon moved the oar in their hand toward the doors to pull itself over the ground and continued running. It did not seem to reserve itself at this point. Not for the folly of assuming that the tower was clear of danger, but for the realization brought by the helpful Templar in his parley with the leader of these ruffians. The boatman pushed through Templars and bandits alike roughly, hardly slowing down, even when the feeling of drain which comes after using a spell washed over them. Sand kicked up behind the mage in clumps with the force of their advance.

Charon had no time to survey the surroundings inside the archaic tower; though it was certainly interesting. The ancient designs and the tools strewn about, the likes of which Charon would have enjoyed to possess, their accurate cut and precise design glinting invitingly in the orange light of the tower's interior. The creature did not even pause for more than a moment at the passing overhead of that titanic winged creature, no more pause than necessary to prevent itself from tumbling into the abyss of fire underneath the sturdy bridges stretching across the chasms contained in the tower. There was only the path to resolving the situation once and for all. By the time it was at the door it was taking hearty breaths and with derisive impatience it swung its oar at the barrier. Though this seemed to be only a display of irritation, this provided the somatic portion of the creature's attempt to dispel the magical barrier. Perhaps one or two of those people provided to Charon by the leader of those ruffians heard the uncanny whispers of Charon's magic in the ruined tower sheltering them from green fire before their victory push. This was not the conniving and faint coaxing filling the area before, this was destruction spoken into the world, or the attempt thereof.

Charon gave no indication to the coyote nor his squad. The boatman didn't seem to care about them any longer, now that the problem they solved no longer existed. The oar, wreathed with streams of what seemed to be liquid blood floating weightlessly through the air and whipping in the colliding tides of energy unseen to them, rocked and bucked in the hands of Charon in their attempt to dispel it. While holding its destructive prowess to the barrier, it growled and hissed in its halting manner, "ffffhhhh, hhhhit iiiit," just in case any interference, in spite of its lack of sophistication, would have made the difference between success and failure, since indeed time was running short.

combat actions

Charon
Before Entering the Tower:
Major Action: -1 Manna, dispel magic vs fireballs cast by flying tentacle things.
Minor Action: Move
After Entering the Tower:
Major Action: -1 Manna, dispel magic vs barrier.
Minor Action: Move
Squad
Before Entering tower:
Major Action: Move
Minor Action: Move
After Entering tower:
Major Action: Attack barrier
Minor Action: Move

 

[Ian Temero]

Health: Bloodied (1/3) | Toughness: 12 | Spell Power: 12 |Manna: 2/5
Condition: 0
Speed: 2

Artisan | -2
Combat | 4
Charm | 1
Knowledge | 2
Larceny | 4
Survival | 3

Lilith Falciani
Lilith felt the fire before it hit. Searing flames flew overhead as she dropped to the floor, hand shooting for her knife, but the creature had already vanished into the steam before she had a chance to throw it. The screams and explosions echoed around her and she clicked her tongue, ears laid back. Poor saps. She felt for them, really she did, but she was in no condition to help. Besides that wasn't the job she was getting paid for.

Turning back to the dais Lilith examined the illusion. She understood absolutely nothing she was looking at, save the orb in the center. Anything at the center was going to be important to the overall machine. Placing her hand on it she felt its hardness and realized that destroying it wasn't an option, however it did seem moveable so it was probably a control of some kind. She hoped that it was fairly straight forward and rolled the ball downwards. If that didn't work she would then try turning it to the left.

Spoiler: Battle

Major Action: Interact with controls
Minor Action: Dodge attack (-1 MP)

 

[Zer0]

- Golden Dome -
" Sinking "​

The Templars hurried to find something to use as a ram, and shouted to many to help lift a fallen pillar, while the rest get ready. "Heave, ho!"

BOOM. But the great door didn't budge.

Until Charon began casting his spell.

The hinges gave a little. Heartened, the men cried, "It's working!"

BOOM

The door rattled, the hinges groaned. Until finally.

CRASH

Blinding blue light struck them amidst the harsh white column of light above the golden dome. There before them was some kind of ringed arcane machine, surrounded by ethereal disks of many colors hanging in the air framing what seemed to be visions of Barad Eithel and the desert in different places. Long blue banners flapped in the arcane winds, and on the far opposite side of the chamber, there was a katulu on a platform, standing behind a dais that was surrounded by little stars. Behind it was Avion itself, half out of a broken wall, still and crouching, as wild bolts flew from the top of its head that was still connected to the pillar of light by a fork of lightning.

There was one of those steam work spider contraption things on the top of its head, manned by another katulu, it was melting something triangular on its forehead that was connected to the fork of lightning; beneath Avion was some sort of hasty makeshift barrier and there were about forty or so katulus behind it firing spells at what seemed to be another group of Templars on the other side.

Three of the katulus were staring straight at the newcomers. Two were shielding the one behind them, while the last one seemed to be waiting for something.

Sisyphus Happy

- Beneath the Golden Dome -​

Suddenly Lilith was weightless for a moment, as the chamber floor dropped beneath her feet.

CRASH

Mighty ear-splitting grinding metal noise filled the air, as the floor shook violently, dust falling from above the steam. The towering walls groaned, and in the distance there was the muffled sound of explosions and heavy things falling. The drows yelled in panic beyond the grey haze, and a crowd of footsteps thundered away from the engine.

Except for two.

"Ukavop whaav lat ayh doaumn righav avhiuk momenav!" yelled an elven man's voice in the tongue of the monsters. Two running misshapen silhouettes holding what looked like clubs and something large appeared over the steam and sound like they were coming closer.

Suddenly, fist-sized chunks of metal and an actual wagon wheel came flying through the steam, missing Lilith, and clanging against the hard dais.

And then two ragged drows, silver hair matted and dirty, one male with a hard scowl, and another taller one with high sharp cheek bones appeared from the mist, metal pipes raised, but then they abruptly stopped just short of the dais, staring at Lilith in surprise.

Ian Temero

- Moss Adamaris -
" Gaius "​

Moss quickly but gently wiped Isa's tears before helping him out of his armor, wanting to know why he was crying, but not saying anything, as he let their gnome healer work. Though he soothingly caressed his cheek when he leaned back and kept comfortingly touching him.

"It was reckless facing her by yourself, Isa." said L, not looking at him, as she pressed a gauze to his open stitches harder than usual. She had gone into that quiet mode where she was either shy or angry. She popped the cork off a small green vial a bit too loudly and put it up to his lips. It smelled of some bitter medicine. "Drink this, it's yucky, but it'll dull the pain . . ." She moved on to the next open stitch, but then sighed, and then paused. " . . . But you know what? Even though . . . even though I thought you died and Theosebia was using your voice . . . I'm . . . I'm glad you defeated her and . . . that you're alive." She wiped the corner of her eye, and then continued to stop his bleeding, still not looking at him, and a little red.

Moss smiled knowingly. And at that moment it was apparent to Isa that he knew . . . he knew probably for some time now that the little gnome had a crush on his beau, but had been chill about it for some reason and never mentioned it unlike with . . . who was that guy that kissed Isa? Him.

When Isa touched his open side, sleeve gone, shirt torn from where the hole had been, Moss' loosened up and sighed, like he always does whenever he felt comforted from Isa's touch, and followed his hand, squeezing it again. "So it was you . . . I had wondered if I had actually died or if I was dreaming it when I woke up and my arm was alright." He was surprised when Isa defensively held him close. He smiled, and despite the situation felt giddy that until now his wounded beau was protecting him. He caressed Isa's cheek again when he leaned back.

"Hello, my dear, it's nice to see you too." He looked around at the floor of soul shards. "My, my . . . This is something you don't see everyday." he smiled, flopping down in relief. "Yaaaay, we won~" he waved weakly, laughing a bit in celebration, before stopping and holding his head, wincing. "Thank you for saving my life, Isa. And saved the gosh darn realm all by yourself too! When we're all good and rested, I want to know all the juicy details --- oh, and don't forget our bargain. I have . . . Oh dear, where is my bag? I brought spare sponsor shirts in case the ones you were wearing got too torn up."

Moss accepted the blade, and looked at the blood staining there, reflecting the shiny soul shards. "Isa, whatever you need for anything from me, take it. What's mine is yours." he smiled, flicking the blood off before hooking it to his belt. He smiled again, happy to see Isa well enough to tease.

"Alright, how in the world did you defeat Theosebia by yourself??" he finally burst out.

Katsuya

 

[Sisyphus Happy]

Health: Fresh (tired af) | Toughness: Background Ability (10) + Armor (1) [11] | Spell Power: Background Ability (14) + Knowledge (4) + Equipment (1) [19] |Manna: Background Ability (4) + Knowledge (4) [3/8]
Condition: 0 | Roleplay Points: 0

Χάρων ​

Charon immediately threw themself to the side of the door and hid behind cover there, throwing up a fist to signal the group behind the door to stop with an authority beyond its pitiful frame. Its head turned stiffly toward the squad and growled, "thheeee sssspideerrrr," pointing stiffly around the corner. Then, it leaned its oar out of the doorway and gently wafted it toward the direction of the machine. In a long-shot attempt, the mage prioritized destroying the connection of the control dais, apparently involved in something important, by unraveling the arcane energy inside of it or around it, either temporarily or permanently, aided by the oar in reaching that distance if required. The rest of the effect of Dispel Magic was directed toward the beasts leering in their direction. From the perspective of the katulus, an ethereal wave of blood-red water, quite translucent, flowed from the door and soaked their ankles briefly before disappearing. It was then that Charon wheeled around the corner and into the room, throwing the held up fist toward the enemy and wheezing in a frightened manner.

While presumably the forces composed of bandit and Templar surged into the room behind the boatman, the creature moved aside and then fell in behind one of the makeshift tower shields fashioned as a form of cover when their own squad moved aside in the same manner, beside one of the marksmen afforded to them. It would hope that anyone who heard the orders to their own force would do the same, to forbear their revenge in lieu of destroying first the enemy's objective. It seemed to be breathing heavily and wringing its hands together. The situation became perilous rather quickly and in the mind of the boatman-made-tactician, the only way the situation could be saved is if those surging in behind them could make it to the beasts before the bulk of them turned around and decided to begin firing. Disabling a handful of them is nothing impressive; the boatman doubted their ability to disable two score.

Spoiler: Ode to Charon and Hiding

Combat Action

Charon
Major Action: Dispel Magic (again) against control pedestal, else against the kathulus looking in their direction, any left over toward the other ones.
Minor Action: Take cover with one of their shield bearing allies.
Squad
Major Action: Shoot the spider, pew pew.
Minor Action: Move toward the arcane device.

 

[Katsuya]

-Isa Bianchi -
“Gaius”​

Isa fluttered his eyes closed as he absorbed the comfort Moss is giving, enjoying the lingering tingles after each touch. That is, until, L put pressure on his wound. The redhead pouted, eyes opened half lidded, and said in a monotonous voice. “Ow. Ow. Ow.” He didn’t move away as he listened to the gnome‘s words, figuring she’s angry with him—-for his stitches becoming undone, he figures. He wanted to protest. He wanted to say that he didn’t want to lose Moss or Leonid. He had to risk himself to keep them safe. Though when she became shy and looked away, saying her relief, Isa couldn’t help it. He grinned softly, silently observing her and Moss’ reactions. He was surprised to see Moss’ smile, feeling a bit relieved that he wasn’t the only one, and somehow respected her ‘secret’ crush by not pointing it out.

His grin softened to a warm smile as he hesitantly let’s go of Moss’ shirt and reached out to pat her head gingerly. His hand was shaking, still not used to initiating contact with others, yet sweet in understanding. “Thanks, Lili. I’m happy that ya are alive too.“ So he relaxed, taking the green vial with a determined look, and drank it-

He made a face, pursed lips in a frown. One eye pushed up by his cheek while brows furrowed. His nose scrunched up. He made a soft weird noise too, like a mix of a toad stuck in his throat and a doggy whine. ”That’s . . . That’s disgusting, Lili.” However, he did seem to relax as she continued to stitch his wounds again. Barely feeling the needle pinching his skin as she sewed. He, instead, focused on Moss. Squeezing his hand and lightly nuzzling the other. Listening to Leonid’s rambling about finding a shirt. A shirt . . .

Oh gosh, he is half naked.

Who cares, right?. . . .

Isa turned red, silently grateful that Leonid is gonna find a shirt for him to wear. He peeked over shoulder to make sure L was busy before grabbing Moss’ hand and kissed the knuckles briefly. “Thank ya . . .” Then he chuckled at Moss’ outburst. So he told them of what happened after Gaius fell. How he came in and saw Theosebia coming his way. Using his last bit of manna to save Moss from under Avion‘s beak and teleported them to the room they found themselves in before healing them with a healing potion for Moss and trauma kit for Leonid. Then after his three triggered plan of explosives, manic potions, and glass shard piercing her, he led her down. Used the gears around him that’s within the broken hole.

”She kept missing in her rage, trapping herself within the gears as I dodged out of the way.” Isa explained, his impish grin sharpened as a vine of yellow cracked through the indigo color of his eyes. His voice went tense, quietly growling as he recalled. “ . . . She kept threatening ya, saying about tormenting ya and having me to watch ya commit suicide after years of not having love . . . Then she would kill me. So I pushed her once more . . . Feeling pity.”

He couldn’t help it.

——— Flashback———​

As Theosebia screamed in pain, Isa watched with a blank and cold stare. Not feeling pity nor regret for her right now. To him, it was right to see her be torn apart like this. After killing many and manipulating others for her own benefits. She lost her humanity within those long years like a demon. Yes, she threatened to harm Moss, but the solution for that threat is simple.

He will kill her before she could hurt the one person he cared for the most in the living realm.

However, he blinked in surprised from a foreign noise. A sob. It’s coming from the demoness herself too . . . He stared at the blue eye with wide eyes. Realizing something crucial as he pieced her words and actions. Perhaps...not all of her humanity is lost. He wondered if she lost her love that way, having to be sealed away, and watching his memories of her fade away . . .

Isa is not swayed, he is not going to help her from this death trap. As much as he understood why she did what she did, it doesn’t mean he would let her do anymore harm to others. Nor would he forgive her for causing a deadly injury towards Moss. He could only stare back at her, but this time . . . He looked on with sadness and resolve. “If I find your love, I’l send him towards ya.” He said, already knowing from her enraged scream of hate that she didn’t hear him nor cared to. Still he felt like saying it to her face...eye...yeah.

As the screaming stopped, enveloping him in silence, did Isa crumpled down and sighed noisily.

He won’t be losing Moss. Not like how he lost his mother.

“May ya stay in peace at the Southern lights.” Isa prayed.

——- End Flashback———​

“ . . . I still dislike her for threatening ya.” Isa growled, nuzzling Moss’ hand tenderly. “But she suffered enough in the living realm. She, along with the other ten thousand souls, need rest and peace in the Southern lights.”

He pondered for a moment, trying to ease his anger as he tried to think of how to say a certain question. “Lili, why did ya look disappointed when the souls faded away?” Eh. He’ll go for blunt and straight to the point.

Zer0

 

[Zer0]

- Golden Dome -
"Round 1"​

Orange sparks pinged against the clockwork spider's side, as it was peppered by an onslaught of bullets, and then tumbled into the lightning. It went off catastrophically, hot smoking parts flying everywhere; Charon's ethereal blood wave was blown away by the arcane winds; at the same time, the shielded katulu moved.

The clattering of chains, and the fluttering down of a blue banner above his squad, and they all caught a glimpse of a large shiny falling golden emblem the size of a garden shed before it crashed down upon them.

In the heavy crushing pain, hot liquid dripped down Charon, sizzling with rancid vinegar fumes, and his entire world went red.

With rage.

The floor itself was shaking from an earthquake. Everyone was out to kill him. All the hurt and what was wrong with the world was the fault of everyone near him.

Spoiler: Battle

Charon is bruised and afflicted with "Berserk". While Berserk, you or the GM (your choice) will roll 1d4 at the start of each round to see what happens.

1. Reckless Weapon Attack against nearest creature with intent to kill.
2. Reckless Spell Attack against nearest creature with intent to kill.
3. Weapon Attack yourself with intent to die.
4. Act normally

When able to act normally, you may use a minor action to make a DC18 Knowledge roll to resist "Berserk". Also, if you don't want to attack allies, the GM can control your character for you.

1. Templar Squad (Berserk)
   2/3 Hp | Toughness 16
   +4 to rolls
   Special: Attacks twice
   
   
2. Charon's Squad (Berserk)
   3/5 Hp | Toughness 16
   +3 to rolls
   Special: Attacks twice

Sisyphus Happy

- Moss Adamaris -
" Gaius "​

Liliana silently gasped, looking up at Isa with an you're-actually-patting-my-head-awmagosh look. She went redder and stuttered, looked at Moss guiltily, looked away, then flapped Isa's hand away. "S-stop patting my head, just-just, I --- I mean, this is okay, but-but, you're injured! Injured person shouldn't move his hand!" And fought off the smile forming on her lips by pursing them, and continued stitching Isa up, looking lower down than usual, curtaining her face with her messy blonde hair. "I know it's disgusting, I'm still improving the flavor." she muttered, trying to keep her lips straight.

Moss chuckled. "Maybe I can help you with the flavor some time? I have been working on a jelly made from desert berries." He left Isa's side for a while to go get his bag. He returned, offering him his water flask. "Here, would you like some water, Isa?" And then Moss realized something. He turned back to their healer. "Your real name is Lili?"

The little gnome paused in her stitches, and looked up again. She seemed to be deciding something. "Liliana. My real name is Liliana."

"Lysander." smiled Moss pleasantly, happy she was trusting him. "Though I prefer Moss."

Liliana let her smile show, and then looked down again, her hair curtaining her face. "I'd like to cook with you some time too, Moss."

Moss had the I-wanna-squish-fluffy look he usually reserved for Okami --- he gasped, Okami! And felt his pants pockets. Two hairy tarantulas poked out, and he sighed in relief. He patted them back into his pockets, and resumed his caressing of Isa. Who was red. Why was he red?

And then Isa kissed his knuckles, thanking him. "You're welcome. For what?" he added confused.

When Isa began to tell his story, the three listened in awe. Leonid handed Isa and Moss spare sponsor shirts, and sat next to Liliana, mouth gaping; the little gnome was impressed with his cleverness with the traps; while Moss beamed proudly like yes-that-is-my-smart-crazy-boyfriend. When Isa got to the part about her threatening him, he shook his head.

"She really hated you. And that punishment . . . is really specific. Not the usual kind of punishment your everyday bad guy gives too." he pondered. When Isa talked about wondering if she lost her love that way, something like compassion crossed Moss' face, and he squeezed Isa's hand. "That's . . . so that's why she hated you. More than remaking the world, you were stopping her from being with her love . . . It's amazing, the things we do for love . . ."

Moss looked at Isa, and then bent down and kissed his cheek. He leaned close to his ear. "I had almost died today, and I never got to tell you." he whispered. "I love you, Isa." Tender teal eyes gazed at him and he smiled, caressing his nuzzling cheek.

After a moment . . .

Liliana looked up at Isa's question like a kid caught doing something wrong. "W-well." she sighed. "To be honest . . . if she really was the Vault of Memories . . . I was hoping there would be something that remained of her, like a skull or something, to ask questions . . . The vault . . . it's . . . my whole reason for this whole thing . . . and . . . now . . . I . . . I think I have lost the way I could find out to do what I really want to do. " She looked down, and her eyes flashed green for a moment, but it could have been the imagination, for they were blue again. And she absently touched her own cheek, as though comforting herself. "But don't get me wrong! I'm glad you stopped her, Isa!"

Katsuya

 

[Sisyphus Happy]

Health: Bloody | Toughness: Background Ability (10) + Armor (1) [11] | Spell Power: Background Ability (14) + Knowledge (4) + Equipment (1) [19] |Manna: Background Ability (4) + Knowledge (4) [3/8]
Condition: 0 | Roleplay Points: 0

Χάρων ​

A throbbing pain shot up the entire lower body of the mage when the emblem crashed to the ground, its girth catching them in the legs. The pulsing pain in their legs matched that in their head. It was the fault of everyone around but even through the chemical haze, the boatman could not bring themself to harm anyone else. There was enough bloodshed. Even the catapults, the maneuvers, the magical illusions, it was all pointless, hopeless. The thing couldn't hack it after all. A failure in their own right. Charon had three other 'siblings' and a well-and-alive master, each better than them in their own way. Charon threw their arms forward, tender fingers crashing painfully into a bed of rubble and harsh stone, ripping up the claws and flesh, blood smearing across the ground. Blood slammed through their body while their body struggled to rid itself of the poison, the thing almost took solace in the white hot pain shooting up from its legs and down from its fingers. Charon snaked their way over toward a railing feature or a pillar, whichever is nearest, and pulled itself up onto the object into a kneeling position, hissing weakly, shaking visibly.

Ysip was walking along a sheer cliff path with his master on a kind and bright fall day without a cloud in the sky. To his right, a sheer cliff face of gray and green stone dotted with impossible tufts of grass. A few mountain goats standing on nothing at all peered down at them, chewing in their strange eyes. His green eyes roamed to the left, where a vast valley of forest stretched out until it was claimed by the distant haze, even further, the dull silhouette of another mountain far off loomed. Far to his left and in their direction of travel, Ysip pointed his hand at a billowing column of smoke, intoning lightly in his young voice, "what is that there? The forest is on fire!" in a frightened and forlorn manner.

His master, a tall, purple-eyed man with a goatee to match the goats, grey and dark brown, and long wavy hair splayed behind him as though subject to a constant wind, turned nonplussed at his student's error. A great grey cloak burdened his shoulders and hid his form, as it did also for Ysip.

"Bah, stay yerself child, they burn the forest of their own accord, it clears the dead debris and makes the soil rich for more trees. Old things, and weak things burn away when they do that, so that the stronger ones can grow and have their way; be careful in the world of men, the same applies," the man informed softly, with a dry and emotionless voice. Ysip's little white face turned back with concern; something about that idea seemed wrong to him, at the time. But perhaps it was right to burn the old and the weak after all; the ghost of reason sighed in his head. Charon knelt before the column he crawled up to and grimaced, a sad grimace. Gripping the feature tightly, the creature suddenly bucked its head against it with a horrible fleshy thump, the sound of a pumpkin being dropped. The hood fell away, revealing the thin face of a human male with dark brown, nearly black hair which hinted green where the light touched it. On the cheeks and neck, the flesh turned a dark, agitated red as though an infection were at the border, and flaky scales, tattered and disorganized as though they were out of place pushed up through the flesh. The eyes were like emeralds, so green. The ears were human at the base, but at the outer curve of the ear, the flesh seemed to split like an insect partially released from its molt. A sigh of pain wracked its body, the sound of a creature more than a person, deprived even a full cry. Razorlike teeth gnashed at the action.



"Thok," again, the creature lurched forward, its body wracked with horror at the feeling, even louder. The action was horrible to behold, done without any regard at all for the safety of himself, all the same horror of watching someone bite their own finger off, to attack oneself as though the true enemy of the soul were the body containing it. The skin of his forehead broke and blood, red, like a person's, flowed over his face and dripped onto his neck and knees. At this point, between his destroyed fingers and head, the side of the column he found himself clinging to was painted entirely red. He thought of his siblings, not by blood, who were each stronger or smarter or faster than him, "thok." The feeling of fire spread through his skull and neck and back; his entire body shook like the ground; good. The creature didn't seem to have the strength to hold himself up any more, shaking, he slid down the pillar, blood pouring over it and himself and beginning to pool in his lap and run down the stone. With his face pressed up against it, his arms fell away slack and his back flagged. It was not clear whether or not he was still breathing, all the blood and gore smeared over the scene and himself, he was an utter moribund, left to be consumed by the fiery pain crawling up his arms and legs and down his head and neck.

Combat Actions

Charon: Attack on self. | Move.
Squad: Uhhhhh. Attack on self or maybe each other? | Move.

 

[Ian Temero]

Health: Bloodied (1/3) | Toughness: 12 | Spell Power: 12 |Manna: 2/5
Condition: 0
Speed: 2

Artisan | -2
Combat | 4
Charm | 1
Knowledge | 2
Larceny | 4
Survival | 3

Lilith Falciani
Weightlessness was an interesting feeling. The landing afterwards, not so much. Especially since the cat girl had not been expecting the sudden loss of ground beneath her feet. Unprepared for the drop as the dome crashed down, Lilith slammed into the dais, biting back a scream of pain as the burn wound met an edge of something hard. Her vision went white for a moment and the next thing she knew she was on her knees.

And then someone chucked a wheel at her.

Spinning around to look for the assailant, pain shot up her side once more. She gritted her teeth and raised her dagger, ready for another attack, but when the two drow came through the steam she lowered her guard a bit. "Yo." She said forcing a short lived smile. She leaned back against the dais, hissing and clutching at her side, still holding on to her weapon. "Some ride, huh?"

 

[Katsuya]

- Isa Bianchi -
“Gaius”​

Isa chuckled, amused from L’s reaction and faced Moss once more. Giving her space to chill as she talked with his beau. Tasty medicine sounds ideal, he wondered if adding tasty flavors might affect the potency or something. He nodded, quietly thanking Moss for the water and sipped to wash the harsh bitterness on his tongue. He watched Moss staring at L with his wanna-squish expression and it changed to panic, checking his pocket to see Okami and Pluplu. The redhead grinned. “I asked them to stay with ya while I deal with Theosebia.”

Moss would notice how Isa leaned in closer towards him, holding onto the ripped edges of his shirt close yet out of the way from L’s stitching. Trying to be modest. The redhead looked up and noticed Moss is staring at him and turned redder before he kissed his knuckles. Smiling warm and bashful. “I’m thanking ya for reassuring me.” He muttered.

As Isa told his tale, he grabbed the offered t-shirt, and put it on after L finished. Silently sighing in relief to wear a shirt and not shredded cloth. He listened to Moss’ words and nodded, huffing. “It certainly is something . . . I just wish she didn’t involve others- mhm!” He blinked owlishly, surprised and turning red from Moss’ sudden loving side coming out. His ears tingled from Moss’ breath being too close and-! Agshdjfkgofhdb-!

Those three words he’s always wanted to hear for a while~

Isa smiled silly and bright, swaying in place as he squished Moss’ hand between his own hand and reddened cheek. Nuzzling it sweetly. His eyes sparkled in his bliss. “I love ya too~” He swooned. He wished they were at home~ so he could snuggle and adore this man all day and night~

Yes, he is aware that he is like a love-struck maiden . . . But that’s what he is. A love-struck maiden . . . Man. Man-maiden. Uhhhh.

The redhead kissed Moss’ cheek back before clearing his throat bashfully. Not letting go of his hand as he listened to Liliana’s answer. He gazed at her, a brow raised as he saw that shift from blue to green blue again. His eyes narrowed a bit before his gaze softened. He felt bad for not thinking about L’s goal while trapping Theosebia and he doesn’t believe it’s possible to ask her. Not when she is crushed between those gears. “All I know is that she had ten thousand souls and from the way she acted, it seemed like the other souls were melded together. Following just one soul who had the strongest will which happens to be Theosebia. . .”

”We can check if there’s a skull, just in case. But I’m not sure if she really was the Vault of Memories. She might have been what came out of the vault as part of the deal or something.” He did remember of what the Templar soldiers said and the vision they passed on. Where after the explosion in the Golden dome, the floor was covered by a green smile called Theosebia. Besides she might have lied to Manuel about her being the Vault of Memories. If she could manipulate others to doing her bidding, who says that she wasn’t capable of lying to her own minions?

Speaking of the Golden dome, they needed to get there quickly. For all they know, something might have happened while Theosebia was here. He wondered if he should fix the Dias on Gaius but he doubted there’s time to grab materials. So he ask everyone in the room if there was a way to go back to the Dome somehow. He secretly didn’t want to bring Okami or Pluplu, a flash of guilt pinched his chest when he remembered how scared they looked when he found them inside of Moss’ pocket.

”I have this materia to float over there.” He showed the shadow claw materia. “But I don’t know how many people can float with me and Leonid, do ya want to stay away from the excitement for now?”

Zer0

 

[Zer0]

- Golden Dome -
" Sinking "​

Curses filled the air around Charon, as warriors turned their steel against their own friends that were still crushed under the emblem, and many left the realm through the smoking barrel of a rifle. What had been a new but welcome sight just moments ago, bandits and Templars actually working together, was now a familiar scenery of blood and metal, two old foes unable to get along since before Charon's master was born, killing each other as they yelled out their grievances.

And then turning against him. Recoiling at the sight of him. And hissing: "Freak!"; "Monster!" As though they had forgotten what he had done for them. Ungrateful, and scared.

And just for that, they raised their rifles and fired.

Sisyphus Happy

- Beneath the Golden Dome -​

"Who are you?" said the scowling one in accented common, guardedly.

The one with high cheek bones stared at the dead katulu beneath the dais and then at Lilith's burn wounds. "My lord, I think she is a friend. Or a foe of our foes at least. Allow me to speak to her. " He approached cautiously. "A star shines on the hour of our meeting, friend, I am Lysanthir of the House of Evindal. Do you know what this is? Do you know how to stop what's going on?" he added more quickly.

Ian Temero

- Moss Adamaris -
" Outside Gaius "​

"I hope so . . ." sighed Liliana. "I really hope there's something left." When Isa shifted the conversation to the golden dome, she looked at her injured friends like she disapproved and just wanted to tuck them safely away somewhere.

"Honestly, I have had my fill of excitement for a lifetime, my dears," Leonid waved his hand, "so yes, I would like to stay here if you don't need me?"

Moss patted his shoulder. "You did good, buddy." he nodded. "Just keep safe here --- oh, and will you please look after Okami and Pluplu?" he took out the hairy tarantulas. He kissed the tops of their little heads, gently patting and whispering reassuring things, before giving them to Leonid. "I think they have been frightened enough today."

Leonid gently cupped the little things. "Of course, and don't forget to wear my shirt!" Moss chuckled, nodding, and squeezed Isa's hand, before going off to the corner to put on the sponsor shirt with the tiefling's bedazzling face grinning at the back. He struggled a little with his slung arm, before Liliana went over to help him.

"I guess we still need to fight." said the little gnome, looking towards the direction of the dome, as she slung Moss' arm again. "Since this isn't over yet . . . What if you all stayed here and I'll go find Vidya and . . . hmmm . . ." She thought hard, and looked at Isa. Then at Moss. And knew that they were going to need Isa, and Moss wasn't going to stay here to let him go alone. "I can fly us there, guys. I can carry two people."

Going outside, they passed carnage littering the head of Gaius: mangled corpses of katulus, missing chunks of their bodies the shape of many bite marks, and the stain of blood where Moss had been pinned, all marred with black soot from the explosions of Isa's trap. Avion was gone. The sandstorm had subsided, and towering above them, casting its shadow over Gaius was Pelagia standing stock still next to Barad Eithel where . . . the golden dome, its bottom swirling with an array of colorful roaring flames was slowly sinking into the ruins, melting everything underneath it so that glowing hot brass and gold rained down like lava.

Katsuya

 

[Sisyphus Happy]

Health: Unconscous| Toughness: Background Ability (10) + Armor (1) [11] | Spell Power: Background Ability (14) + Knowledge (4) + Equipment (1) [19] |Manna: Background Ability (4) + Knowledge (4) [3/8]
Condition: 0 | Roleplay Points: 0

Χάρων ​

Sickness. The surety with which Charon ravaged himself was absolute. As though he found the rope to heaven and was bade climb. The mind is an odd thing. Various phenomena in the world, reproducible and sure, pertain to the existence of the soul, which might as well retain something of the mind. Nonetheless, it was not an affliction of the soul which deranged the poor thing, indeed he never felt the trembling of manna through his body, except when that huge device repelled his feeble aggression; hopeless. It was a chemical which possessed the meat wrapped momentarily about the soul which twisted the lie of reality to one greater and, he pulled fervently. Bested therefore useless, useless therefore weak, weak therefore he may as well save them the trouble. The rope fell from on high, to heaven it was not. The madness of his thought just a moment ago sent a cold spike into his chest to complement the burning of the torn flesh on his hands, the tremendous pounding -- oomph . . . oomph . . . -- of his head, battering the inside of his skull and what few wits remained in there, a sharp pain spreading after every bass-drum thump behind his nose and eyes; there were tiny dots of light scrambling like insects over his vision and black spots coasted around its field of their own accord.

Nonetheless he saw well enough, his back against the pillar, his life seeping from his head and hands and warming his behind; he felt quite cold and would shiver if he could. Breathing became herculean. He could feel, as his heart threw blood at the back of his nose and to the base of his toes, the irregular rhythm. The stillness of the moment before sleep took him momentarily but he shook it off in time. "Foooomph, foooomph," two long draws from his heart seemed to shock life back into him. Looking up and around, the coldness remained. Where once there was steeled, free will, their mouths frothed, their eyes were reddened with blood, stretched and contorted in all the aggression of animals snarling, no restraint, skulls crushing, blood spilling, mingling with his own and flying through the air. Armor crunched and the flesh in them tore with squelching crunches, the garbled cries of airways being invaded by blood. Charon swallowed and exhaled hard, his hand trembling when it traveled slowly as though heavy, though he felt the sensation of it to be weightless, like pulling it through water or ooze. Its rough skin touched his lips, at least those weren't frozen over with scales, and a small cry, like a yelp hissed through pan-pipes, "mm...mmo.... ssshhh...stop," it whispered, unable to control its voice. Warm liquid too fluid to be blood dropped onto the top of the scaly hand. It felt like someone was pushing on his chest, his air was leaving his lungs of its own accord, and a wheezing moan followed it. Then it inhaled a shuddering breath and did it again, crying low and raspy, its shoulders convulsing with the effort, he could feel the skin on his face stretching as the transformed muscles contracted in disorganized ways as a result of their metamorphosis. There was a calculating part of Charon's mind which stood in wonder a the experience; he had never cried in this new body before. It was not so different.

The sounds faded and he could only really wallow in his own grief. From his soul's pit, even tiredness felt beyond him. The black spots grew and the fireflies stopped their buzzing and their thoraxes died. A flash of steel quite close caught Charon's attention and his scaled face bobbed upward uselessly, too weak to look properly. He could not even see the guns pointed at him and could only convulse one last time when two points of lava spread through his body and burned it from the inside out. Fire from his side and electricity throughout the rest of it. Its hand dropped and its head and jaw went slack. At this point it was well enough over. His soul sank lower, or higher, there was only one direction here and even it was meaningless. All the world was hundreds of millions of miles away now. The rope lead nowhere but he found heaven anyway. Sleep and peace; death. The creature lay without motion against the pillar. A portrait of handprints and anthropomorphic smears spread out behind him; cruel wings. A path of blood stretched from his inanimate feet to several feet behind him where it led to the gore still unfolding. The backs of his hands rested in the halo of blood congealing in jelly-like clumps, the arched joints lifeless now. Its head leaned back to look toward the sky, the shifting light of the arcane device casting hallowed shadows. An ugly ring of blood and ripped flesh bled in rivers over his mutt features like stigmata. His expression, grief; the kind which prompts one to fast for being filled with it and drives one bald, the pain of pulling hair more pleasant than its ravaging grips, the kind which kills, the kind kindled in one who conceives the world in charity and comfortingly touches strangers. There was an odd pattern in the blood coating his face, there seemed to be clean twk streams, each from the inner parts of his eyes to his chin, as though his face were blood and he instead bled cleanliness.

Yet it seems the world had not tired of him yet. There in that mutation-mangled body, whatever fierce creature took partial residence had some infernal vitality to offer. A lizard may grow back its tail; perhaps regeneration is the ghastly trick of that ilk. All the more fearsome and fierce the creature which stole his hands and feet, eyes and ears, and all sorts and slices of his body inside, than the minuscule vermin which scramble in constant panic away from any movement of a creature larger than they, all the more infernal. Never mind his tail, though it would be difficult to see at this very moment on account of the mere moments which had passed since death drew near to him and inspected his awful visage. The reaper seemed to draw inches away now, finally unsure and unwilling to make a mistake. Just the faintest breath filled the creature with a leisurely pace, with laziness like death. Uneven and still flagging, a pulse struggled through that corpselike thing. Heaven saw fit to quit him if only by the width of a hair.

Combat Actions

Major Actions: DIE
Minor Actions: Un-die.

 

[Katsuya]

- Isa Bianchi -
“Gaius”​

He decided to help L find something — a skull or a spine, though he doubted the spine would still be intact—- and came back with the results.

Isa sighed in quiet relief when he heard Okami and Pluplu was staying with Leonid; in safety. As Leonid held the tarantula, the redhead reached out to gently rub on them with a finger tip. Smiling warmly. “We’ll see ya again soon~” He cooed. Sure, he felt L’s disapproval about them fighting again when they are wounded, but she knew they have to. He nodded to her suggestion.

As they walked out of Gaius, Isa stepped over the shredded bodies with a straight face, wanting to leave the place soon. He was used to seeing death, however he did wince of the method. Being eaten to death? By her? He shuddered, thinking he’ll pray for them after this whole thing ends.

“What in the world?!” Isa exclaimed, raising a high brow. Watching the dome dig underground . . . That’s. . . . This is unexpected.

Zer0

 

[Zer0]

- Golden Dome -
" Sinking "​

The two didn't find anything, and came out of the bloody gears smeared in some places with remains, Liliana more than Isa, who squeezed into the nook and crannies of the whirring and clicking gears searching for anything that'd allow them to talk to the dead, but they found nothing but sick-green pulpy flesh. She sighed in disappointment, thanking Moss as he offered her his bag to clean her clothes, before passing it to Isa.

"Later, when there's more time to search, I'll try looking for something again. Thanks for helping me, Isa, please don't feel bad." she added gratefully, smiling. "I understand, really, it couldn't be helped, she had to be defeated." She looked at the bloody gears, before touching her own cheek again.

Later, when they stepped outside, suddenly the column of light above the golden dome flickered.

A burst of wind, and the vast form of Avion came shooting out from behind it. Its flight like the sound of a hurricane. Its vast shadow hid the moon for a moment, as it rushed pass over Gaius, covering them in sand, circling south, before it winged around, talons outstretched, and SMASHED the top of the dome. Its gold towers fell; the branches of lightning connecting the goliaths to the beam flickered in and out, as the roof collapsed. Until finally the beam of light disappeared, and all around the swirling ethereal disks surrounding Barad Eithel faded away. Avion turned northwest, soaring over the desert until it was nothing but a black speck in the inky night sky.

But the golden dome was still sinking.

Liliana snapped out of it. "Isa, Moss, hold on to your sponsor shirts!" All at once her shadow lengthened, brightened, becoming colorful sparkles that wove into patterns around her like a cloak, falling over her face and forming a wide, flat smiling mask? A pink and neon green tail flowed behind her, her arms became long purple-green glowing tatoo-ed claws thick as trees and scooped Isa and Moss up into the air. Her legs became scaly and webbed; she opened her eyes, looking down at them, they were pure white. And with a slap of her tail they suddenly shot up into the night sky.

Moss was speechless.

They could hear all of Barad Eithel creak, explosions blooming, as colossal pieces of it began to tear lose from the melting, falling off the slanting city and crashing down upon the sands. The scream of the dying hundreds who had gathered to storm the dome rivaled the chaos, as their shape-shifted friend floated with all haste around Pelagia's legs and beneath its belly for cover.

The goliath hoomed, shying away from the destruction, and the wind from the walking of its gargantuan limbs nearly blew Liliana and the friends she was carrying away, but she righted herself, and shot out from underneath its side, dodging sandy falling debris, streaks of molten gold, and falling screaming Purrsians. Now they can see the colossal exhaust pipes Moss had been talking about when he had scouted beneath the golden dome yesterday. There was a dozen, roaring out colorful jet-like flames, and by some feat of ancient engineering, was holding up an entire palace-like dome and its surrounding land in the air.

They flew up and over the edge, and there they saw the shattered dome, golden roof twisted, and all around its steps, the green fires and bodies from the battle. Liliana quickly circled above it, searching for enemies. "Do you see any katulus?" yelled her strange form.

"No, I think it's clear, hurry!" said Moss.

Liliana immediately landed down. Miraculously, the ringed arcane machine looked relatively unharmed, despite all the rubble, but it had changed from when they first saw it on Malus. The thing had reformed into some sort of well. Tamer than when the rings were moving, but still alive with powerful arcane winds that shifted, becoming more water than air, and then more air than water.

It was surrounded by the corpses of Templars, katulus, and folks from Barad Eithel. None of them were moving, save for one cloaked heap near a blood-stained pillar.

Katsuya Sisyphus Happy​

 

[Sisyphus Happy]

Health: Unconscous| Toughness: Background Ability (10) + Armor (1) [11] | Spell Power: Background Ability (14) + Knowledge (4) + Equipment (1) [19] |Manna: Background Ability (4) + Knowledge (4) [3/8]
Condition: 0 | Roleplay Points: 0

Χάρων ​

As a result of his proximity to a support structure and the direction from which the blow on the dome came, when the critical thresholds were reached and all of the material of the dome tore away, the pillars resisted finally the downward thrust of the creature. Where the initial hole was punched, the stone and metal ripped apart, not unlike paper, and began falling away, such is the strange nature of matter. The fighting creatures who were too busy deranged either by loyalty or poison to notice until it was too late. There were pieces of hemisphere crashing down all around, dust immeasurable, the sound was awful; whining and cracking like thunder. Flesh couldn't withstand a falling rock, it's another old story. Rocks fall, everybody dies. A few structures jutted up from the rubble, mostly leaning, but the destruction was nearly complete.

There in one of the islands of coherence amongst crags of broken stone and twisted metal, a moribund soaked in blood leaned against a pillar which was also leaning and broken off at the half. Perhaps he would have been shocked at the sudden and total destruction, but senses were so far beyond him at this point. Even comfort was beyond him, his face twisted in grief still; sleep could not undo it yet, and it would likely remain there until roused again, however many days that would take. He should have coughed at the dust, yet the deathly weakness clutching to him stifled it and only a weak huffing could be mustered by the failing body. At that point, many of the open wounds had stopped bleeding. Either they closed as a result of the congealed blood resting over the wound, ugly from the outside, or the weak heart barely passing blood through the body, allowing the platelets to stick together with the ease of leisure. A moderate amount of blood marked his resting area, it appeared the fragment of a horror scene, the handprints and smears. Indeed, most of the damage was internal, about the head, and around the two gaping wounds in his left side, still seeping blood. Clearly, they were bullet wounds with no exit marks to match the other side. The cloak was nearly torn in half and resting on him like a pall, his monstrous visage was fully visible.

His struggle was visible in spite of his nearness to death. Slack against the pillar and breathing like a rabbit, Charon was indeed the only thing moving.

 

[Ian Temero]

Health: Bloodied (1/3) | Toughness: 12 | Spell Power: 12 |Manna: 2/5
Condition: 0
Speed: 2

Artisan | -2
Combat | 4
Charm | 1
Knowledge | 2
Larceny | 4
Survival | 3

Lilith Falciani

Lord? House Evindal? Lilith fought back the urge to groan. Nobles. Her favorite people to work with. Bunch of stuck up as- She quickly shook the thought from her head. Now was not the time for personal grudges. "Lilith Falciani." She introduced herself with a nod, then sighed. "Afraid I don't know much, just that I was paid to keep this thing on the ground and so far I've done a poor job of it." She gave the dais a rap with her knuckles. "These are the controls but I can't wrap my head around them."

And then the whole building shook as something struck it. "Gods! What is going on?" She cursed, painfully scrambling to her feet and facing the controls once more. "Can either of you make heads or tails of this thing? We need to shut it off now!" If one of them came forwards she'd step aside and let them do their thing. If not then she'd grab the orb and give it a hard turn to the left.

 

[Katsuya]

- Isa Bianchi -
“Are ya okay?”​

Isa stared at L for a moment and shrugged nonchalantly. “Very well.” He doesn’t believe her at all. It is something that she wished for a long while. “We’ll try again later.”

Outside, Isa narrowed his eyes, suspicious of the sudden beam of light before flinching from the gust of winds as Avion passed by them. Quickly, he pulled Moss and L close enough to cover them with his robes, making sure the sand didn’t pelt on their bare skin. He watched how Avion circled the dome before destroying the dome with it’s own talons. What is going on?! Wasn’t Avion following the directions of the kutulus? Unless . . .

The beam of light disappeared!! The goliaths aren’t controlled anymore.

Then Avion went in the night sky. Far from it’s destruction. What in the world? The dome is still sinking though. Uh-oh. Isa snapped out of it from hearing L’s urgent voice, letting her go so she could transform without fear. He held onto Moss’ hand tight, rubbing the dorsal side with his thumb gently. His impish grin became wider, impressed the fluidity of her transformation despite how fast it was. Then he held onto the speechless Moss as L slammed her tail on the ground and leaped!

He peeked through her large fingers as soon gravity let’s him move, watching the chaos from below. Isa did want chaos, but he didn’t want innocent folks dying. It couldn’t be helped though, since they are in a mini war. He’ll pray for the dead after all this is done. The redhead ducked behind L’s fingers and pulled Moss close as the gust of wind from the last moving Goliath shied away from the battles. Luckily for them, L pulled through.

”I don’t see any kutulus!” Isa yelled, still he kept his eyes open in case there was one or two. As soon L landed, the redhead let’s go of Moss after a squeeze and hopped out of L’s claws. Landing on his feet before hopping up to walk over to the arcane machine. He watched the manna forming into winds then water then winds again, fluid in it’s motion. The very ringed portal that he has seen before inside Malus but now it changed somewhat. More modern and sturdy in a way. He supposed the kutulus and Theosebia wanted it to be sturdy for their ideal plan. Though the dead bodies of friend and foe decoding the place is disturbing, he thought, feeling sad of life lost like this. Still he moved forward. Deciding to somehow research the machine, Isa searched within his robes, wanting to grab his tool box when he suddenly spotted slight movement. Someone is breathing...

The cautious redhead quickly made his way to the still figure by the pillar and slowing down; he kneeled in front of them. He tilted his head, wanting to see their face underneath the messy and matted hair before raising a gloved hand to hold under it’s nose and baring his wrist. Wanting to feel that breath, that sign on life. Hoping it wasn’t his imagination-

A soft breeze hit his wrist.

“L!! L!!! This person is alive!!” Isa cried out, moving out of the way, and carefully started to pull the bloodied robes off. Wanting to reveal the wounds this person was inflicted. The mysterious figure would see a pale man, messy hair dyed black, the roots hinted a cooler red color, the fringes curled around his cheek bones. His eyes are slightly narrowed, the indigo blue is deep and intense. Yet the mysterious person can tell from that sharp gleam that this man is mischievous by nature. He wore the most curious of clothing too, dark robes and shoes like the locals yet the shirt was out of place. It was a shirt from a merchant called Leonid, the letters and design is colorful and random just like the merchant’s store implies to sell.

That impish grin on his face quirked a corner higher than the other. It didn’t help his image. He looks like he wants to play a prank or something. Yet he is helping the gnome girl. A weird contrast.

”Hey.” He cooed quietly in hopes to calm this wounded person, tone dulce and slightly low. “She’s a healer. She can help ya, okay?”

Isa wanted to figure out what’s going on and if it was dangerous, maybe use it or stop it. He also wanted to figure out how to stop the dome from going underground or destroy Barad Eithel anymore than it already has.

Zer0 Sisyphus Happy

 

[Sisyphus Happy]

Health: Unconscious| Toughness: Background Ability (10) + Armor (1) [11] | Spell Power: Background Ability (14) + Knowledge (4) + Equipment (1) [19] |Manna: Background Ability (4) + Knowledge (4) [0/8]
Condition: 0 | Roleplay Points: 0

Χάρων ​

The pale robe would have come away easily. It was more a long shawl or cloak which was draped over the body of Charon since the loose grey-lavender sash which held it closed was ripped apart and hanging loose around his hips, either during the gory melee only minutes before or as a result of the avalanche of rubble crowding dangerously close to his broken body. The hood of the same material and color crumpled up behind his neck, obscuring one of the ears mangled by some encroaching, lizard-like flesh and split by a fin not unlike the material seen on he fan of a frilled lizard, here in a dark, mossy green and crumpled and torn like old fabric. Though he breathed, it seemed even touching his body could not rouse him. His body burned with fever and the breaths were quick and shallow, the heartbeat fluttering. The act of removing the cloak revealed thin, white underclothes which were very well suited to the desert environment unlike his outer covering. Puncturing both articles, two gaping holes, wide enough to insert a petite ring-finger, in the side of his strange body were actively seeping blood; luckily, lower on the torso. One burrowed through a couple of the lower ribs and the other seemed to pass down and toward the back of his body, avoiding the intestines but possibly directed toward the spine. Neither of the entry wounds had matching exit wounds.

Paired with the gunshot wounds, a wide region of the thing's forehead was perforated with tattered flesh hanging off in pieces, a large scab already dried. His face was unsurprisingly, absolutely covered in blood in wide streaks, now cracked and covered in stone dust, all down his face and neck save for a couple of clean trails extending from his tear ducts to his chin. There was a matching region on the pillar Isa found him leaning against with a more generous heaping of partially dried blood. On that note, even though much of the scene was recently buried in pieces of a rock and metal shell, anyone close enough to Charon to see his wounds would be able to see blood absolutely everywhere. It was not as visible from a distance as a result of the dust kicked up from the destruction settling -- nay, sticking in it like a powdery gelatin, but the brown-red batter formed a dried pool in a pretty wide area around where Charon was found. Perhaps not a person's-worth of blood, but something to note nonetheless. There were bandages wrapped tightly around its hands and feet which hung limply in tatters, stained by the same brown-red color. With the shroud of bandages destroyed, the hands were almost entirely reptilian with thick, scaly flesh and pointed black claws like hooks. The flesh was nonetheless beaded and caked in blood and the edges of many open wounds stuffed with tiny pebbles could be seen held fast, a cement of blood and mortar. The puffy white linen pants wrapping the legs seemed to be torn up and crumpled somewhat more than the tunic which, outside of the two black and red holes in the side, seemed to be mostly untouched. Underneath, the flesh was not red, but turning black and blue, and mostly human as well, the colors of injury standing out against white skin. The exception was the feet which seemed to be in much the same state as the hands. One of them, the right one, seemed to be bent inward a little bit too far to be normal, and a protrusion at the ankle suggested the foot was quite dislocated.


The sleeveless white-linen tunic underneath the cloak was pulled tightly around him but the bits of exposed flesh under his chin and on his upper arm were littered with patches, streaks and regions of the lizardlike flesh seen on his face. It seemed darker in some places and paler in others. In some places, the lizardlike flesh grew out over the humanlike and in others the flesh seemed to be coming up under. In many places, dried skin cracked and a tiny bit of agitated red seemed to peek through the seam between. Like where armies meet in battles, a couple of the seams seemed to pucker up and are red with inflammation. Perhaps that particular ailment was unrelated to the one gripping this thing currently. Perhaps the odd constitution of this creature is the only reason his soul clings to the flesh. In any case, death was close and growing more impatient by the minute.

 

[Zer0]

- Beneath the Golden Dome -

Spoiler: Run

If Lysanthir was disappointed or panicked he didn't show it, save for the quickness of his steps. He looked hard at the starry runes "We are not familiar with it either." He immediately offered a hand to help Lilith when the floor shook violently.

The scowling one desperately looked back to where the drows were screaming, and then up at the roaring engine. "We must take cover then and hope we survive this!"

The groaning metal became louder, and there was snapping, and hisses of steam, as pipes bent and twisted, but Lysanthir didn't move from his spot, mind racing to try and understand the runes and save his people.

"Lysanthir!"

And that was when, with the two drows not really doing anything, that Lilith intervened.

Suddenly the glowing arcane floor dimmed, the mighty engine's roar shuddered to a hum, the sunset light from the bhrumstone tamed. And the floor once more fell under Lilith's feet.

But this time the fall was longer, as Lysanthir's dirty white hair lifted up his head, the look of surprise he shared with his lord, as he tried to rush to protect him.

CRASH

The tremors surged, throwing them backwards, as the ceiling caved in all around them; dust and debris rained; the arcane floor was thrust upwards, as spikes of twisted metal burst from underneath, hissing steam and breathing fire.

Everything was coming down; there was a mighty screech and a ringing snap, and the large silhouette of a crane came battering down through the haze.

Ian Temero

- Golden Dome -
" Falling "​

Moss lowered his head into Isa's shoulder, aghast at the frightened screams. Hundreds fell to their deaths, and all he could do was watch. His fist clenched. He had spells. He can save them. But he didn't, because he might need them up there. And for a moment he felt dread. Dread of home. Of the war at home. Before his thoughts snapped back to the present at the calming feel of Isa's hold.

Now in the dome, Liliana bounded up to the survivor. "I'll take care of him! You just focus on the machine!" she said impatiently. A blob of her gnomish form pushed out from the lizard's belly, and her ordinary face and arms glowing with the same tattoos as the lizard, poked out as though from something sticky that clung to her. She was already muttering a spell.

A shadow covered Charon. Then there was gold and pink sparkles, and then a comforting warmth wash over him, making it easier to breathe, as small hands pressed something soft at his bleeding wounds.

Suddenly the floor fell away underneath them. Isa caught a glimpse of collapsing brass and gold rushing up outside the broken walls; Moss who was at the machine suspended in the air looking at Isa, trying to get to him; Liliana's large lizard form bowling Isa over, shielding him and the survivor, before ---

CRASH

The golden dome collapsed on top of them.

Katsuya Sisyphus Happy

 

[Sisyphus Happy]

Health: Bloody
| Toughness: Background Ability (10) + Armor (1) [11] | Spell Power: Background Ability (14) + Knowledge (4) + Equipment (1) [19] |Manna: Background Ability (4) + Knowledge (4) [0/8]
Condition: 0 | Roleplay Points: 0

Χάρων ​

The creature suddenly coughed and lurched, instantly clutching its side, quite horrid noises rising from its throat, a tortured wheezing sound punctured by growls. Only audible for an instant, weightlessness. As they fell, its eyes fluttered open to behold a monster within inches of his face. On the way down, his oar appeared in his hands and he held it in front of him protectively. Another instant passed and he could see just past the creature, the walls of the dome rising above him and pouring over, a waterfall of stone following the monster toward him. A number of intentions broke into his mind but a loud cracking noise filled it instead when he hit the ground, probably the popping of his stiff back. Charon became pain; it did not matter how much rubble was between him and Isa and Moss, a wretched and loud scream filled the ruin, that of a young man, quite human sounding. It persisted for several seconds, waning into a mournful sob which was in turn silenced by an even quieter vomiting and wet smacking sound. The vomiting seemed to persist even longer and the episode ended with a disgusting cough and desperate inhaling. The worst fit of whooping cough Liliana may have encountered compared to it.

In that shell of rubble, Charon managed to worm himself into an "OTL" position, propped up on his hands and knees and crying toward the ground with his quivering back pressed against Liliana's stomach. He might have preferred waking up in hell. The two deep gunshot wounds burst open again all at once. A deep, gnawing, echoing pain, as though fire were a blunt weapon, slammed every cell in his body. Wheezing weakly, the vomit began, a wet and warm wave stinking of stomach acid and something more washed over his knees and Liliana's hind feet. He wretched twelve or thirteen times, only the first four actually yielded material, and the fourth was nothing but water and mucous. All the time, his midsection convulsing, the two gunshot wounds were spilling blood actively and it dripped and mixed with the white and brown pool settling below. When he finally found time to fight for air, even the lightest cleanest air would have tricked him into thinking his lungs were wrapped in barbed wire. He instantly began coughing, gobs and drops of blood spilling out of his mouth. In the middle of his coughing fit, eyes spilling tears in such a profusion that the dried blood on his cheeks began washing away, Charon somehow mustered the will to raise his oar. The gentle massaging of mana through the area suggested the discharge of a very basic magical attack toward the rubble in the direction of his and Liliana's head. He attempted to clear a path out in this way, desperately.

 

[Katsuya]

- Isa Bianchi -
“Falling”​

Isa silently nodded, believing that the injured stranger is in good hands. So he stood back up and walked over to the machine. He saw Moss standing there, probably ready to try and solve this machine too, like before when they traveled in the Windshear mountains. Such endearing memories-

Next thing the group knew, the floor crumbled beneath them. They were in the air.

For that quick moment, Moss would see Isa leaning forward, reaching out towards him with a stretched out hand. His playful grin wiped away, his lips parted as if he was about to yell out his name, brows curved up, and eyes unnaturally wide; franticly desperate to stay close with him. Desperation from a deep fear of losing someone he cares again. It fueled Isa to reach as far as he can— when L bowled under him and Charon, Isa was taking a step mid-way and he took advantage of that. He finished that step, pushing himself off one of L’s talon, and took a big leap-

Their hands were able to meet. Isa gripped on Moss’ hand tightly and for that quick second, he looked relieved. Then he yanked Moss close, thankfully the brass and gold missed him-

Next thing the merman knew as they crashed on the ground, the redhead had slightly curled protectively around Moss’ head, arms pulled him close to his chest, and hands in his hair. He was kneeling over him, grunting from the few pieces of broken stone hit his back until a large piece of ceiling slanted over them; there were broken pieces of columns on one side, holding up the large slab above heir heads. Then they heard a young man’s screams nearby right after, causing Isa to hug Moss tighter. Shaking terribly. It was until Charon started to vomit for the fifth time, did Isa loosen his hug and take a good look at the merman. Outwardly, he seemed calm and collected, but from the way how his eyes moved frantically all over and how he couldn’t stop trembling, Isa is afraid.

”Moss, are ya okay?” Isa asked, cooing. Cupping his cheeks tenderly —- completely different from the desperate grip he had earlier. His side hurt like no tomorrow but that’s not processing in his redhead. Neither is the fact that his recently new stitches seem to open again...at least one or two of them became undone and bleeding.

”L? L?! Are ya and the guy okay?” Isa yelled out. Gosh, that dude sounded terribly in more pain than before.

Zer0 Sisyphus Happy

 

[Ian Temero]

Health: Bloodied (1/3) | Toughness: 12 | Spell Power: 12 |Manna: 0/5
Condition: 0
Speed: 4

Artisan | -2
Combat | 4
Charm | 1
Knowledge | 2
Larceny | 4
Survival | 3

Lilith Falciani
There was this sinking feeling that she had done something terribly wrong as once again the floor fell out from underneath Lilith's feet. Then they hit the bottom and the world started falling apart around them. The floor ripped up beneath her and Lilith clung to keep from getting thrown across the room. She coughed as the dust, steam, and smoke filled the air. "Hey, are you guys okay?" She called out. Then she heard the snap and saw the shadow loom over her. She had no time to be worrying about anyone else.

She launched off the piece of flooring she was clinging to, feeling the wind blow past as the crane missed her and slammed into the ground. "Run!" She yelled out to the two elves, wherever they were, and made a dash for the blockade of petrified bodies as the ground shuddered beneath her. Reaching the grotesque statue she quickly began to scale it, using hands, feet, heads, anything that stuck out as footholds as she bounded up and flipped over the top, landing cleanly on the other side. Spotting Nyx laying on the ground not to far away she ran over and picked the machine up. "Come on girl, get us out of here." She whispered as she hopped on, revving the engine and slamming down on the gear.

It was a hell she never wanted to experience again. The floor cracking beneath her tires as she peeled away. The walls of the tunnels sliding in as she sped down them. Chunks of the ceiling flying at her head. Twice she had to yank the bike to the side and dodge as a shard of metal popped out in her path. Finally she could see the exit, but the entire thing was about to cave in. Gritting her teeth she pulled the throttle and shot forwards, shifting her legs to one side of the motorcycle, then just as she reached the collapsing entryway she twisted her hips and yanked on the handlebar, bringing Nyx into a sideways slide under the falling debris, sparks flying as they scraped across the ground and out into the open air.

The dust settled and Lilith just laid there for a minute next to her precious ride, catching her breath.

"Not worth four hundred."

 

[Zer0]

- Moss Adamaris -​

Moss shared that look of relief with Isa, before he was pulled close, arms curled tight over Isa's head and back as everything crashed down all around them, choking them in dust.

Moss' heart was hammering when the tremors stopped, a frantic ringing in his ears. Isa was trembling above him in the dark. "Mmpha." He slowly felt him, searching for hard bumps, sharp piercings . . . he felt his side. Wet and warm. Is that blood? Moss tried to wriggle his head out of Isa's embrace, but he hugged him tighter, hands in his hair. Someone was retching nearby, a voice he hadn't heard before.

He kept his hand pressed against Isa's bleeding side. "Mmpha." he mumbled in his chest again. "Mmmmpha." he lightly but quickly rubbed his shoulder, trying to get his attention, but still Isa held him, shaking. Moss hugged him tight.

Moments passed just mumbling comfort into Isa's warm chest. Moss' breath evened, he just now realized that he had been breathing hard. The ringing in his ears faded, and now Liliana's voice piped up amidst the vomiting, but he couldn't make out what she was saying.

Isa moved. "Are you okay?" he asked at the same time. "I'm alright." Moss followed immediately, caressing Isa's dusty hair. A little moonlight shone through the cracks of the cramped fallen debris and the sloping slab of gold ceiling above them. "What in the world just happened? It felt like we fell."

He kept his other hand on Isa's bleeding side, as he started to look for away they could get out without having more heavy things come crashing down on them.

Katsuya

- Liliana -
"Fallen Gaius"​

Meanwhile Liliana was splattered in vomit, but she dared not move to help the agonized survivor for fear the heavy debris on her back would come falling down.

"I'm going to help you." she said calmly in the dark. "You're going to be safe, I'm a healer, I'm going to take care of you." she soothed amidst his loud retching. "ISA, MOSS, YELL IF YOU HEAR ME!" she slowly bent her lizard legs testing the stability of the collapse she was holding back. Suddenly a flare of magic bloomed in the dark from the survivors oar? and shot past her head.

Boom

For a moment the heaviness left her back; dusty moonlight streaked down; turning, she saw the way up clear. Without hesitation, she grabbed the injured mage and leaped out, bursting through stone and dusty sand, curled protectively around her patient.

"Isa! We're okay! I'm going to put him in a safe place, I'll come back for you and Moss! " she yelled in the direction of Isa's voice, sighing in relief that Isa was yelling coherently and not screaming, or worse, silent. "We're getting out, we're going to a safe place." she added reassuringly to the survivor.

She flew up and out the shattered ceiling. Above was the gaping melted wreck of Barad Eithel, missing a colossal chunk, and below shrouded in dust was the fallen dome, leaning, the land around it broken like scattered pottery revealing the twisted metal of giant machinery and spilled glowing molten metal from within. A single blue glow throbbed through the dusty haze from the center of the shattered dome: weak arcane winds from what's left of the engine blade.

The colorful lizard quickly floated away from the destruction towards the fallen Gaius and gently laid Charon down in the sand under the shadow of its giant head. "Leonid, help!" her blobby gnome form appeared again out of the stomach, and she pulled out a well stocked trauma kit from her messy blonde hair. "Please take care of this man, I'm going to go get Isa and Moss!" and she was immediately off again.

"Oh, thank goodness, you're okay --- alright! Um! Leave it to me!" a purple tiefling, his head recently bandaged climbed down the goliath. He took one look at Charon. "I . . . hmmm . . ." this tiefling was definitely not a healer.

Sisyphus Happy

- Ruins of the Dome -
"Moments ago"​

'Lilith, darling, if you are alright, please reply to this message. If you can, come to Gaius, it's safe here. If you can't, tell me where you are.' said Leonid's voice in her head.

In the silence that followed the aftermath, cries of help rose from the distant dust and rubble. Folks looking for their loved ones, yells of anguish, voices calling for help. Far away, the earth rumbled as Pelagia slowly made its way south. Slowly people came out of what's left of the ruined city. A couple passed Lilith, calling out someone's name, running towards the shattered dome.

Somewhere nearby she could hear whining, like that of a dog. Barking loudly.

There was a giant coyote, saddle still strapped, its rider nowhere to be found, struggling under the rubble. It was half trapped. Nearby, things glinted on the ground under the moonlight, scattered belongings, tools from the metalworks she had passed on the way out, warped gems --- soul stones, and an odd ornate metal chest. It had seven locked key holes.

Ian Temero

 

[Sisyphus Happy]

Health: Bloody
| Toughness: Background Ability (10) + Armor (1) [11] | Spell Power: Background Ability (14) + Knowledge (4) + Equipment (1) [19] |Manna: Background Ability (4) + Knowledge (4) [0/8]
Condition: 0 | Roleplay Points: 0

Χάρων ​

More red droplets flew from Charon's mouth when he was whisked up. The sudden motion caused his vision to go black for a few moments as the ground and the sky blurred into the same incoherent nothing. Scaly limbs flapped listlessly in the dusty, warm breeze during flight, his body folded in half in her grasp and a long reptilian tail seemed to unroll itself from his tunic on account of the repeated jostling and their damaged state. Blood rushed to his cheeks and the pain in his sides flared, his limbs thrust in the direction of the ground as a result his inertia, slowing and stopping startled him awake, though it seemed the pounding burning emanating from his side did not subside even in sleep. "At least," he pondered on the awful feeling, "it means I'm no longer in the process of dying," his emerald eyes rolled languidly up the lizard -- person -- floating away, and the scene around him finally reached his mind. Vast and stony, the mossy construct whose name he could not presently remember cast a gargantuan shadow on him, a smooth and swept bed of sand beneath him. He laid there on his back weakly, sweat forming a sheen on his entire face, face now pale as his tunic.

His eyes fell on the purple Tiefling with exhausted exasperation when the newcomer appeared dumbfounded and he could properly manage an annoyed expression. Usually one did not feel compelled to look at an other's neck when they spoke, but now uncovered, there was a good deal of activity around Charon's throat area when he spoke which tended to draw the eye. Subtly, it seemed during speech a few muscles oriented in the wrong direction were tugging against his throat and constricting his airway during speech, providing an extra challenge to his current condition. Wincing visibly, Charon raised a shaking hand toward the tiefling, huffing between rapid breaths, "h-heeellp.. gh... l-lhhift mee mm... mmmh," he winced and shuddered as a wave of pain wracked his body. Both of his hands shot to his side and he pressed his head into the sand behind it, whimpering weakly and baring his wide and pointed, blade like teeth, reminiscent of a shark's.

More weakly, he continued, "neeed to ssssit," while clutching his side and whining petulantly, "caannt breeathe." Indeed, his heavy and rapid breaths had a note of high pitched wheezing to them.