Fey Day [6/21]

[16:49] {NARRATION} This is a Chance of Death event. If you fall too many times in battle and roll low, you will die. If you came unprepared, you will die. Here are a few things to note:

- Three temporary injuries taken during the event, even if healed, will result in a -10 vit perm.
- If your vitality reaches under 100, you will die.
- You can take another player's injury ONCE across the event.
- Medics can apply first aid / kits TWICE.
- You can use potions/lax/etc unless specified otherwise.
- You can step aside after any encounter if you desire

Do not hesitate to be creative.
If you have any questions before we start, ask away!
[16:59] {NARRATION} The stories of fariers and the ilk are abundant across a multitudeof continents. Known for many things, like their trickery they have gone into seclusion with the rise of civilization.

Born from the spirit realm they inhabit the real world as the cross over, for every tree, river and blade of grass a fae is born. Yet... something would be wrong here.

A forest, rumored to inhabit a group of Fae has changed. The once vibrant and lively forest has almost ceased to be, the trees weakened, the grass' color has faded and the signs of death linger.

For the group seeking them, this would be clear as they traveled ever so closer to their destination, and then, the entrance.

No fae would be present, infact it seemed like life had completely left the forest, only replaced by the lingering effects of occultism. Yet a path would still run through the thick forest.

The way forward would seem to be clear.
[17:03] Well, this didn't seem entirely right. As the trio traipses through the thicket, Armondt keeps his eyes peeled for anything of particular interest. As it were, however, the entire foerst piques a certain interest. A problematic, worrying sort of interest. What happened here? Even if fairies had a tendency to keep themselves far, far away from civilization at large, this seemed different.

They might have been able to find a track or follow a rumor as to their location, but it was either unfounded or something has gone terribly, terribly awry.

With some measure of uncertainty, the dusty courier looks over to his companions for a better gauge of what it is that's happening here. He does so, while also engaging with his own mana, ethereal wisps of cosmic energy wafting every which way to get a decent sense of any 'serious' signs of occultic magic.
(Armondt)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[17:04] "Well,"

Amidst the dark forest did the Teraphim's voice ring out as he follows close behind Leni and Armondt, his purpose far more of a guide then anything truly deft. "This location has the hallmarks of..." His tongue fails to finish the sentence, a lingering hesitance filling the air.

"...certain types of fae. I doubt we'll find a circle like you may hope but..." His amber eye closes as the hole where his leftmost eye swirls with an umbral energy, peering through the woods in idle curiosity.

"Delve deep, you'll find something underneath the biggest of rocks."

Whether or not Leni wanted to find the things lurking, though, was the ultimate question.
(Tieru Avlee)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[17:07] Finally, they're on there way, on the path to adventure. The druid is absolutely giddy as they embark along the path. She literally skips and traipses along the path through the woods just as happy as a lark.

Until she notices, and feels, something terribly amiss. Life's been drained from what ought to be vibrant green. All her notes and research- well, more like 'research'- had mentioned this was the place to find the fair folk.

But they were not here. Nor was substantial life.

"But...this isn't what it's supposed to look like. It's not supposed to be like this at all."

Leni looks towards Tieru and Armondt alike, taking the advice of the former to start forward and seek even still. They were here for adventure, in spite of the unexpected circumstances.
(Leni)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[17:15] {NARRATION} As the group progressed deeper into the forest it would be abudently clear that the fae that inhabited it were seemingly gone. Only quickly wisps of light would possibly tell them that they were still present and even then... maybe they were just normal spirits.

While Armondt used his cosmic magic to survey the area it would be clear the the deeper they progressed the more the occultic energy would resonate and grow in strength, the origin of which was in the deepest part of the forest.

And yet, something could be heard.

"Badump... Badump... Badump..."

Large footsteps would be heard progressing towards them. For those that could sense it a large object, one that seemingly wasn't even living was walking closer and closer at a steady speed, tracking their every movements.

"Dem-- dete----- exter------ imm-----"
[17:20] The sensory probe didn't do much for Armondt beyond show him just how wrong things were around him. That there was presumably a cause to all of this, and the only way they can find out for sure is to follow this rabbit hole to its end. "I--" He opens his mouth to speak, but finds himself unable to the moment he hears the thumps of those footsteps.

The cylinders in his brain fire off, and his instinct takes hold. Armondt puts his hand on the pommel of his sword, and stands towards the front of the group, prepared to address whatever was lumbering towards them head-on. If it was tracking their every move, there was no evading it.

"Think this is some kinda vanguard," Armondt mutters, just loud enough for the two of them to catch.
(Armondt)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[17:21] The druid's eyes flicker a shade of glowing, pale blue as she opens her extra sensory perception. She glances around and peers to pinpoint any errant fay or spirits that might still be lingering. Sure enough, a few yet dot the barren, drained landscape.

Occultic energy is one thing, even if it's not in her wheelhouse. But whatever this is? She can feel her skin crawl as they draw closer to the heart of it.

Then the footsteps, the ground-shaking strides. She starts to reach back for her freshly repaired whoopin' stick. Leni can sense it alright. And she doesn't like it one bit.

"I don't think it's supposed to be here. It's gotta' go."
(Leni)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[17:22] Whatever words that Tieru still had were quickly silenced with the oncoming noises.

So it wasn't dead, then. Not everything, at least, and from the sound of the cacophony that came for them it was something big.

Crouching low, Tieru moves towards nearby shrubbery to gaze forth at what dares come forth.

Armondt isn't responded to verbally; little but a nod of his head comes as the archer takes position within the nearby growth.

Silence overcomes Tieru as he waits for whatever it may be to approach...
(Tieru Avlee)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[17:27] {NARRATION} The foot steps would get louder and louder as more wisps of light came forth to which the trio. Circling around they would all watch and then as soon as they came, they vanished.

A large stucture of earth and nature would come shambling towards them. It had no visible eyes yet it was clear it could 'see' them. Around the area vines would spring up and blue pollen would form.

"Calculating."

"Calculating..."

"Demons spotted. Must ensure they do not regroup."

Yet... further action would be taken. For now.
[17:29] Leni gawps up at the construct of nature magic and stone, all surrounded by vines and looming ominously. The druid does as she usually does, even when confronted by possible danger; the staff in her hand takes less priority as she waves cheerily to the stone creature.

"HEEEEY! We're not demons! I promise!" she squeaks from far below the titan.

"We're just here to see fairies. We're friends!

I like your vines and stuff!"
(Leni)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[17:30] Silently Tieru crouches...

The swirling umbral eye peers upon the 'golem', even if that wasn't quite the truest of designations. It had a master, someone who designed it, and someone who could command it.

Patrolling, too, for demons.

Had demons come before them, tarnishing the forest of it's growth? Was this then a druid's invention?

His bow is pulled from behind his back with great care, an arrow nocking against the bow.

Within cover, he watches Leni confront the creation...
(Tieru Avlee)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[17:31] Either it was a vanguard or a sentry; it was certainly built like a tank in either case. A tank that they would need to blast their way through with about as much force as they could muster. Armondt's hand keeps at the ready on the pommel. The judging part of his brain was already coming up with a couple of conclusions.

"Think their protector-type thing ain't workin' right..." He looks up at the distinctly golemic creature and narrows his eyes. "She's right, we ain't." Is it a creature of reason? It certainly sounded cold and logical. Armondt enshrouds himself with a cover of light, but doesn't make any movements himself.

He just watches, and waits, and prepares himself for any kind of aggression.
(Armondt)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[17:31] God himself exclaims, "Grr... Gr!"
[17:34] {NARRATION} The sentry would stay put for a moment while it observed the group. Yet more specifically Leni. The bumbling fool that decided to run up and wave it's hands right in front of it. Shouting.

"Foolish human protocal initiated."

...

...

"This is no place for you, human. Turn back. You are not welcome here."

A few wisps of light would return scanning the group and then... they headed over to Tireu.

"Hostiltiles detected!"

Vines would then immeditatly shoot out of the ground as they headed right for the Teraphim, a warning.

"Stand down you will be terminated."
[17:39] Armondt keeps his hand where his sword be at, maintaining a harsh staredown with the golem-adjacent creature. It had protocols and detections and warnings and such? It was keenly familiar; after a fashion, it reminded him of home. Leni, however, was the one doing the talking here. The last thing he could do was try and add another cook to the broth, else risk ruining it.

What he does note rather quickly, however, is the thorned assault sent in Tieru's direction, a fairly significant 'stick-wave' as far as threats were concerned. He runs over to support the dark-skinned man, ready to address the threat of the vines should they get close enough to actually be a sizeable assault.
(Armondt)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[17:39] The words 'bumling' and 'fool', even put together, pretty accurately describe Leni. A lot of the time. She's out here to make friends and do adventures. As would happen, this thing is certainly not here to make a friend. Hew own fey tendencies work against her.

"Mmmnope! Sorry! I go where I want! And where I want to go is here!" she chirrups defiantly to the construct, grinning even still.

"So can we be here, please? I think something's wrong. Maybe we can help. Or...we can fight you! That works too."

With her spectral sight she glances over the guardian. Is it perhaps the source of the occultism that's presence is FAR too strong in this neck of the woods.
(Leni)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[17:40] Of course.

A wave of Tieru's hand brings forth a deep, umbral shield around him as he crouches back deeper into the foliage. A meaningless gesture as the sight of the golem was likely a sheer magical gaze, not unlike Leni's own sight of the spirits.

The arrow finds itself snug and tight against the bowstring...

It fails to fire, however. So long as Leni felt the need to speak, the bow and tongue of the Teraphim were to be held back.

All is focused upon the umbral shield around him in a vain attempt to ward off any strikes upon him...
(Tieru Avlee)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[17:44] {NARRATION} "You can not progress."

"Turn back. This is your final warning. Leave, or else."

More wisps of light would come to watch, allowing Leni to see their true idenitity for a brief moment. The Fae of this forest. Yet... scared, frightened, they huddled around the sentry as it was their guardian.

"You cannot help. We will exterminate the demons. You humans only cause problems for us."

"Turn back."

"Turn back."

"Turn back."
[17:48] Tieru, unlike Leni, was not blessed with the sight of the spirits yet.

Perhaps he could have it if he had not campaigned for so long, but life had not allowed it to yet be. Still, a shield manfiests upon him as the arrow is ready to be fired.

Ready in case 'diplomacy' broke down.

The 'demon' remains silent, daring not to make a further move as he waits for either Leni's cue or the first strike of the construct...
(Tieru Avlee)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[17:50] Now that makes her heart sink just a bit. The sentry continues to deny them entry, no matter how much they insist. She catches the little floating balls of light out the corner of her eye.

Fairies. Honest to god fairies. She puts her focus on them instead, rather than the protector.

"Hey! I know! Humans, like, make problems all the time! We're not here to make problems though, I promise! I don't even like most of 'em either anyway."

The hand that doesn't hold her staff holds up a pinky out in an unspoken offer. A gesture they might perhaps not understand, but one she holds important all the same.

"We can try to help fix the stuff that's gone bad here, and be friends. And if it doesn't work, we can leave!"
(Leni)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[17:51] "...So, that's what ya were up to this whole time..." Armondt regards the mechanism with a set of curious eyes. Eyes that were unable to see the fae for what they were, naturally, but there was absolutely something to the insistence in that reply. "We ain't gonna be doin' anythin' to cause trouble here, and the last thing we'd wanna do is represent any kinda 'civilization' on the outside."

Armondt eases up on his stance and unhands his hilt, making a stronger effort to present with less bellicose intent. "All we came here to do was to meet fairies, maybe give 'em a gift or two, hang out for a spell, and be on our way. But with all this..." He looks around the thickets to and fro. There was an unmistakeable taint surrounding them, and his senses already pressed as much into him.

"We can't well leave somewhere the Spirits live so messed up like this. I ain't gonna speak for the rest of m'friends here, but now? Now I wanna help." He speaks alongside Leni, feeling a little less concerned now that the construct appears to be given to reason.
(Armondt)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[17:56] {NARRATION} ...

...

The sentry would seemingly shut down. The Fae of the area became more and more clear as they hovered towards Leni. Their attitude had changed, the seemed... hopeful.

It was for one reason, a gift given to the Fae. Empathy.

The sentry would then move towards the side as one of the wisps became more and more clear, presenting itself to the entire group as it hovered before Leni.

"H-h-hello..."
[17:59] With the golem's cessation so did the shield around Tieru end.

A rustling of leaves comes forth as the Teraphim emerges from his cover, peering towards Leni and the wisps abound her.

Was it that simple?

The arrow relaxes, the string falling lax as the projectile is quarantined back within a quiver upon Tieru's back.

A warm smile emerges, but he dares not approach her.

Silently, a have waves Leni on gently in encouragement.
(Tieru Avlee)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[18:00] The people of 'civilization' did not often see reason, or at least certainly not the same reason she saw. As Armond speaks alongside her, echoing the same sentiment, and the construct powers down, she feels a swell of hope too.

She removes her staff to her back entirely, no intention of hostility in her whatsoever now that she's finally found what she sought. Leni grins ear-to-ear, looks up towards Armondt, and then hollers back to the Teraphim still skulking.

"Hey! It's okay! C'mon!" she hollers, beckoning him forward only to find that he'd already been doing just that. The druid turns back towards the fay that's approached.

"I'm Leni! Like we said. We wanna help. Did something bad happen here? How can we help you guys?"

That had not been her original goal, but restoring what's been done wrong to this place now seems like something that ought to happen. Something she wants to happen.
(Leni)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[18:00] Relief. Great relief. The druid's intentions were as pure, and Armondt knew that very well. It was a grand thing that none of them had fallen too far into their base instincts and attempted to retaliate or strke first. A measured calm and an emphatic heart saw the Fae before them.

And now Armondt could see them, and that was a treat in itself. He gawped for a moment, uncertain as to whether or not he should let his mind believe what he sees, and then shakes his head.

This was real, and this was absolutely as much as an ardent heart deserved. So, following Tieru's example, he keeps his mouth shut, and allows her to speak.
(Armondt)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[18:06] {NARRATION} A few more wisps of light would circle about the group. With each and every rotation they would get faster and faster, watching, listening, feeling every single thing they did.

Yet the main fae that presented itself was still floating, nervous, scared, what seemed to be its head would nod.

"They came... the demons." It was as if uttering those words frightened the rest of the fae, they scattered into the wind, yet they slowly came back to the group.

"They... took over our forest. Our santuary where we hold our most precious things. Relics, materials... and much much more."

The wisps of light would stop moving, each and every one of them turned blue, sadness, depression. It was a horrible, horrible thing after all.

"If you... if you vanquish the demons, we'll allow you too take some of the objects inside!" The main fae would suddenly blurt out.

"That's if... you want to... of course..."


[18:09] The Teraphim's self-imposed silence breaks.

"Makes sense, at least." From the foliage he comes, very gently towards the pair--still keeping a distance from the fae.

They need not be spooked, after all. "The playthings of the witches cause ruin wherever they walk. It wouldn't take more then..." He peers to the occultic woods, feeling the energy through the air.

"Perhaps a pair of Kaors to do this much damage if they felt like it. Feasting on the ambient energies and the wildlife."

Though, unlike Leni, little empathy comes from Tieru; this was Leni's mission to uphold, not his.

He was simply around as a favor to her and Armondt.

"I can't imagine we're dealing with anything that's truly ascended, at least."
(Tieru Avlee)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[18:10] Armondt keeps himself piped down, listening to the Fae's retelling as his companions do. The demons could very well have shacked up just about anywhere else in this forest, but instead they chose to do it directly in the sanctuary. Was it out of greed or just a want for defilement?

Whatever the case was, it made his blood boil. He clenches his teeth in a grimace, looking onward to where his senses told him the mass of Occult energy resides. Something had to be done.

The fairy beseeches them in the way any fairy he would expect would; they ask the task of them, but only does so if they want to. An accord he understands fairly well of Leni, too.

"I'm in. I ain't need the stuff - I just need them out. Ain't sit right with me if we'd just sit here and let some nasties shack up in your home and keep ya from your peace." He couldn't speak to the various atrocities the civilizations of Esshar commit to one another, but he could speak to the simplicity of justice.
(Armondt)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[18:11] Leni tries to follow the dizzying trails of light, delighting as they circle all of them round and round and round. The circumstances are surely dire for these fair folk, peaceable creatures who wanted little more than to stay away from the ills of civilization- a notion that certainly resonates deep within the druid- yet she can't help but continue to smile.

The colors, the sensations, are all a treat for one like her who is always seeking new feelings and experiences. Hel, it's a dream come true.

"So that's why it feels funny...They came, and took your stuff. And now they're just here making stuff worse?"

At that her smile fades. As the wisps flicker through light and the gamut of emotions she can feel those, too, resonate in her. That deep sense of sadness and loss. It's strange.

"If these guys don't mind- yeah! I wanna help. The land shouldn't be like this. It's not how it's supposed to be."

While certainly a creature of whim, Leni is just as much one to desire to uphold the natural order wherever possible. And this ain't it.

"Roo. You okay to beat up some demons?"
(Leni)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[18:12] Tieru thumbsup!
(Tieru Avlee)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[18:12] Leni says, "Cool! I figured, yeah."
[18:17] {NARRATION} "Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay!"

The fact that they had accepted their offering quickly overtook all of the fae in the area. The wisps of light became multicolored like a rave party, flashing and circling the group just like a disco ball.

"Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay!"

Suddenly all of the lesser fae would swarm the group, thousands of light went inside of their clothing, tickling them, laughing, enjoying the moment, a few minor, lesser posseisons of unimportance would be taken and then the main Fae would speak.

"Just follow the path! Our sentries cannot handle the major demons, you'll have to do it yourselves!" It would state with clear and utter joy, just like the rest of the Fae, and then it would slowly vanish.

"Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!"
[18:20] As soon as the fay folk all begin cheering Leni reacts immediately and exuberantly. She cheers along with them, dancing about in circles as they all flash in their multi-colored hues. One wouldn't even think she was about to go fight demons; she might instead be ready to boogie all night long.

The druid laughs and giggles as what she's sure are her new friends all revel in the moment with her. This moment is absolute perfection. But, like all things to be reveled in and savored, even it must end.

"Okay! We'll take care of it! Don't even worry!"
(Leni)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[18:21] Tieru winces from the cacophony of the sudden voices.

Ah, yes.

Fae.

In all their exuberant splendor. For better or for worse, they were the woodland spirits tried and true. "Lead, Leni. Armondt."

A hand raises to cover his head idly. The Arcanium ring around his head, terminating at his mind, only warded outside influences.

Not outside noises...

Tieru's quick to accompany Leni away from the gaggle of spirits!
(Tieru Avlee)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[18:21] Armondt almost takes a step back when he beholds the rapturous applause from the fairies. They were absolutely ecstatic to get the reception they did, and perhaps so was he. He just had a far more subdued way of showing it; a wibbly little smile.

The wibbly little smile gets complicated when the swarm of fae start flying into them, tickling and pilfering and flying around all up in his clothes. It was like being covered in ants running all around you, only far brighter and louder and with a distinct amount of pep.

So he's forced to do a jig in place, and before long he's lost some particularly brightly-colored strings of pocket lint, and a perfectly round bright red ball you could roll around perfectly.

"Er-- yeah. Let's get goin'." He rubs at the back of his neck. "We got some pests to deal with."
(Armondt)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[18:31] {NARRATION} With the outburst of excitement over all of the fae would stop as they quickly vanished into the wind again. The path forward would be clear yet the growing signs of occultism grew.

While they walked some of the fae would follow them, yet slowly they would leave. Dead trees, grass, life had left this part of the forrest. Completely black grass would soon cover a majorty of the area, the trees showing signs of being melted away.

And then, something was in front of them in the distance, they were too far away to make it out clearly but fire surrounded it, along with the glow of occultism.
[18:34] "Have you two battled demons before?"

Somehow, he suspected they had. Wasn't it Leni who fought--ah, who was it?

The bat, perhaps?

The thought flickers through his head for but a moment before fading. "They're tricky things. They act like they are mindless with brutish structure and fiendish visages but they're actually quite intelligent. Don't be fooled."

The bow lay slung at Tieru's side as he continues behind the druidess. "And, might I add, perhaps don't speak with them.

They're cunning, you know. Deceptive. There's nothing worth knowing that a demon knows."

Well, maybe there was...

But not for Leni, certainly.
(Tieru Avlee)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[18:35] As quickly as they'd arrived and shared their dance, the fairies vanished. The path is set before them, marked by the taint of an imbalance of occultism. The balance is all haywire and leads a trail surely towards where the demon culprits must be.

When the fay walk along them she greets each one and chatters with it as long as allowed, enjoying their company however brief it may be. She can't blame them; if the desire to help make this place right didn't outweigh her desire to not be here, she'd have left too.

With her eyes still aglow, though it makes her head dizzy, she leans forward and squints to try and catch whatever foe lies ahead.

"Nope! Never. I've just heard stories. And seen 'em from a ways off."

As if following Tieru's suggestion, she unslings her staff.

"They're not friendly, huh? They always want to make trouble? Like, all the time?"
(Leni)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[18:36] "Well, there goes all the fun..." Armondt grits his teeth yet again, and finds a far steadier hand resting on the pommel of his blade. The levity had fairly passed - now they were taking up jobs as exterminator, in order to bring peace to a cluster of Fae. Times have grown pressing; never did he realize that the entire complication of demons could have gone as far as infesting a place this sacrosanct.

"I don't figure we're gonna have much of a parlay with these goons, no." He looks over in Tieru's direction and shakes his head; there probably wasn't much to say to them beyond some very creatively-strung together expletives.

"But maybe we can try to waylay them, if they're that smart." Smart enough, at least, to pick up on mana signatures. Armondt concentrates deep on a point a little further to their east; still ahead, but off their trail. Concentrating, he expresses his mana in a thicket away from them and conjures up a wispy ball of ethereal Cosmic light.

Could they catch it unawares?
(Armondt)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[18:38] Leni asks, "Ooh. We're gonna try...y'know. Bein' sneaky?"
[18:38] Tieru Avlee says, "I fear you underestimate them if you think it'll work..."
[18:38] Tieru Avlee says, "...Oh well. Watch."
[18:45] {NARRATION} You know....

It was an earnest attempt at least. I'll give you that.

Armondt would slowly move into postion as the group decided to sneak up on whatever was ahead. He seemed to understand the jists of stealth and being quiet.

But the other two...

"PrrrrrrrvT- POOF!" Flatulence...

Where, or more importantly who it came from didn't matter as the sound eminated from seemingly both Leni and Tireu. The thing in the middle of the road quickly heard it and moved with great speed.

Of course it was what they all assumed, a demon, an apex predator. Occultism would shoot through the air as it rubbed agaisnt their skin. A kaor demon, the size of a small house took notice of them, and with each step it took to hunt them, fire would lit the trees around it.

[ This will be a 5 round danger, if you have any questions please ask in LOOC ]
[18:48] Leni's doing her best to sneak along, creeping down with her staff in hand, hunkered over like a very novice hunter going after their quarry. Then...

"Ugh, Roo!? Was that you!? Wow, that-"

Then the demon approaches, firing potent magic. She focuses less on playing the blame game and hits the deck so that the first occultic volley doesn't hit her. Then? Then she just laughs, right in the monstrosity's face.

"He's huuuuuge! C'mon, let's get 'em!"
(Leni)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[18:49] "Told you it wouldn't work."

Kaor Yokai were just too intelligent to be snuck upon.

No comment is made towards any other noises or otherwise vulgarities that may have occurred...

Leni is still a lady, after all!

"Brandish yourself. You'll find it harder to fall then you think.

Think of it like a witch. Shield your mind, cast out the dark thoughts, and don't stop swinging until there is nothing but ash and grime."

An arrow nocks within the bow.

"Don't underestimate their ability to regenerate..."
(Tieru Avlee)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[18:49] The blast of distractive Cosmic magic wends its way through the thicket and where it lies, and Armondt uses the diversion to slip through the trees. Accustomed as he is to life on a dustbowl, he's also learned how to be a bushman at the same time. He expects the others to follow suit, and manages to find a decent, dessicated oak to hide behind, lying in wait for the Kaor to show a vulnerability.

Then he hears a toot, and the courier plainly understands that the jig is up. Armondt's brows narrow - if nothing else, he could at least try to slam it in the back of the head. "We were close, alright?!" He hollers back in Tieru's direction, before running directly at the demon's heels to slam it firmly with the edge of his blade.

The rash of combat begins, and everyone springs to action.
(Armondt)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[18:50] Retro DM 2.0 says, "oww"
[18:50] {Item} You picked up Four Leaf Clover..
[19:00] {Item} You picked up Four Leaf Clover. Dropped by God himself. .
[19:06] {Won Dangerous RPB against God himself}
[19:12] Occultism fills the air.

It, admittedly, makes it difficult for Leni and Armondt to tell which beams of darkness are friendly and which are the enemy. Blasts of darkened mana sear the ground, culling whatever life that was left still within the ground from the impact.

Flames smoulder as ash fills the air like a profane snowfall. Amber embers flickers to-and-fro like the fae once did, threatening to sear the throat of any who inhaled.

Even the druidess might find it difficult to conjure growth in such envrionments…

Where the natural magics wane, Tieru thrives. The hellacious energies within the atmosphere do little more then serve to amplify the existing occultism that the Teraphim wields. It pales in comparison to the demon whose very essence is born of the magic, but it was still borrowed from him all the same.

The ground bends underneath the demon...

Spikes of iron and copper, conjured from the earth's mantle, begin to spear the creature's legs one by one as the cosmic swordsmanship and natural arcana bind him to the ground.

"Stand back--"

And, with the demon bound, Tieru advances as the bow is tosses aside for his hands to grasp roughly at the Kaor's chest.

Thrum...

An energy pulses through it's body.

Thrum.....

Occultism dives deeper then it should be allowed, rattling at the very cage of the creature's essence.

Thrum. . .

Until, with a final surge of heinous occult magic, is the rattling of the body complete--sundering the very life of Kaor here and now.

"...Burn it."

A tired Tieru turns, glancing towards Armondt. "If you have a torch and oil, so be it. If it requires the falling of stars, so be it.

Render the flesh ash and we're done with it."
(Tieru Avlee)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[19:14] Trucking alongside his companions, Leni and Tieru, Armondt manages to catch the beast from behind. Lamentably, it doesn't do a whole lot of difference; the demon practically fights on even keel with them. The hunters conspire with another hunter entirely, and in their entangle do they figure out who among them becomes the hunted.

Thankfully, it doesn't have to be them this time. The trio manage to pull through, through Armondt's gumption, Tieru's punishing barrage of Occult-enhanced arrows, and Leni's fair mastery over nature magic. The forest around them is practically lit aflame by the fight. It is perhaps for a blessing that despite the wood around them being parched and dry, it is sparse enough that it doesn't seem as liable to spread.

"Tough li'l bastard, ain't ya..."

They didn't want this thing around anymore. Even standing within the area does Armondt feel his connection to the Lone Star wane and waiver; but perhaps dealing with this and the other plagues in the sanctuary could things feel right again.

Tieru binds it, and Armondt happily obliges. He goes for overkill, perhaps, and lifts his hand in the air.

Nothing happens for several seconds beyond a light increase of pressure... and then suddenly everything happens at once. A ball of ethereal, purgatory light aspected to the cosmos suddenly explodes into the wide space above Armondt's size. It's about the size of the Kaor itself.

Just about the right size, that is, to be flung right into the bound creature. A quick, ethical, and obliterative sendoff.
(Armondt)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[19:18] Leni's known about Tieru's particular brand of magic- even a little bit of darkness here and there is all part of the balance, a cycle of light and day. She's never seen it in action to quite devastating effect. Nor has she seen the courier's magic used with such lethality either.

They're long past the need for overtures of peace or friendship as the demon comes barreling forward with mal-intent. Even the druid knows that if something seeks to do you harm and eat you? It's on one's self to, as many might say, 'do or die'. It was a clash of wills. Their will to live and cleanse the place and the fiend's will to see them dead.

And it's all so terribly exciting and exhilarating even still.

Where the demon's decayed and withered the ground she encourages life to sprout anew and lash back at the one that corrupted at twisted it. Ultimately, no one really controls nature- they might have its ear or submission for a time, but it always eventually breaks loose. Little spirits of the earth swarm around its feet, dizzying clouds of pollen cloy to its nostrils.

Ultimately, Tieru is the one to strike the final blow; she steps back at his behest and she watches the Kaor crumple.

The druid smiles, satisfied, and gives the demon her own send off. A sloppy salute.

"Not even good food for the worms," she curses. And that's the most damning curse she has in her arsenal.
(Leni)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[19:23] {NARRATION} "Gdsjfkldsjfklsdfjksld"

The Kaor would roar in agony as the trio fought through it. Occultism, Starlight and Nature prevailed as it was felled. The body left on the ground writhing, basking in overcharged occultic energy and starlight. It couldn't escape, it was bounded by vines and plants.

It would soon no longer be in this world.

The path forward would once again be clear, and off in the distance the santuary of the fae could be seen. A stone stucture with shadows hanging about but most strange of them all...

"THUMB THUMB THUMB!"

The sound of a drum, yet it was no signal or no war chant. It was music of all things.
[19:23] God himself says, "cas fsdfsdf sd resrfsd frasdf sdgdf"
[19:23] God himself exclaims, "!!"
[19:25] Slowly, the bow is gathered and strapped back upon Tieru's body.

"More."

It's all that's stated before Tieru nocks another arrow in his bow, peering towards Leni. What did her spiritual sight see?"
(Tieru Avlee)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[19:26] "That's one down," Armondt finally exhales, having finished charging his Attack, which was similar to a Big Bang in its nature. "However many left to go..." He looks over to Leni as Tieru does, waiting for her next move as the defacto leader of this operation.

All the while, he sends out a few more cosmic wisps this way and that, trying to get a decent sense for just how much occultic taint still yet remains in the sanctuary.
(Armondt)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[19:27] If they're defaulting to Leni's leadership, they might have a bad time. She doesn't have foresight but she sure has enthusiasm. She's got that in spades, even as the Kaor's life fades she turns towards the source of the drumming.

Oh man. That's a real nice beat. She squints in the direction of the noise, scanning it with her spirit sight, and tapping her toes. The druid lightly sways to the beat.
(Leni)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[19:32] {NARRATION} If only Leni didn't do that...

As if peering into the distance she would connect to a fae's sight. It was in a cage, cowering in fear while a hoard of lesser demons were partying. A kaor, would be on the stage, along one more but this would was dead, eatten, gone.

And the music would continue, the drums would pound, a guitar would play an epic rift while the kaor demon sung.

"Augh!" AHGH!AUGH!! AHGH!!"

"I DO NOT NEED, ( HE DOES NOT NEED);

A MICROPHONE! ( A MICROPHONE);

MY VOICE IS FUCKIN, (FUCKIN);

POWERFUL!!!!!!!!!"

"Augh!" AHGH!AUGH!! AHGHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!"

Admist the concert... the demons would do unspeakable things, the fae they captured crushed, pulverized into dust and then snorted or even worse... eaten alive.
[19:36] Armondt lifts his head from where he stands and listens to... lyrics spoken in a common tongue? Huh. He supposed that the 'mother tongue' carried pretty well throughout all of Esshar. As far as the content of the lyrics itself is concerned, however, the courier briefly considers his teenage days. He isn't entirely sure why, but he does.

It was an easier time then.

But without Leni's eyes, all he had was the music. And all he had was to speak a good five to ten decibels a little higher to address the druid. "Can't see what you're seein'. What's the call?"
(Armondt)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[19:36] Wince...

Was this why no Kaor Yokai seemed to ever fall to sound magic as a specialization? This profane chorus of daemonic intercession that acted as if it would drive normal men mad?

The arcanium implant doesn't even react; it was purely a normal assault upon the mind instead of a magical one. Yet again was he denied satisfaction by the mortal wickedness of Eternian creatures.

Hands raise to muffle his ears...

"It's a demon, that I'm sure." Speaks Tieru as he keeps his distance, as if hesitant to get too close to the cacophony. "One that thinks this is music.

How many are there, Leni?"
(Tieru Avlee)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[19:39] Leni sees ahead. And boy does she see alright. The willowy druid immediately goes pale, staff still in hand, and she grabs it in a white-knuckle grip. There's maybe only been one time she's seen something that compares quite to this.

As much as she identifies with the fay who want to go about their business? It hits, and it hits hard.

"There's...there's. A lot. It doesn't matter. We gotta help!"

And once she's got that idea in her head she charges, dead ahead, with all nature sprouting in her wake. It's time to raise some Hel.
(Leni)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[19:42] "A lot?"

He looks towards Armondt, curiously.

"How many is 'a lot'?"

With that, Tieru follows after--he was confident in himself, at least, if not the other two.

If Armondt wanted to stop her...


Well, that was on him to do!
(Tieru Avlee)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[19:45] "A lot?!" Armondt gawps over in Leni's direction, his temerity brought to a brief halt when he hears just how many there are. A lot was a lot. And as impulsive as they've become over time, a situation like this needed a plan. He seizes on the word 'help' that the Druid blurts out.

If he wasn't going to stop her, as was never his wont, what he could do was help. So, in an effort to help raise further Hel and concuss the demons clustered in ahead, Armondt clasps his hands together before separating them far frmo one another. A similar, comet-shaped sphere of garishly bright yellow energy accumulates between them.

He draws every ounce of his magical potency into this spell. And without further hesitation, as if to serve as a flashbang, Armondt hurls it ahead of them. The cosmically-aspected dance of lights bursts ahead, and detonates into a bright, disorienting flash to those just a little too close to it. An exploding shower of sparks, and a little more direct as far as pyrotechnics are concerned.
(Armondt)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[19:52] {NARRATION} "OHOHOHOHOHOH! WHAT'S THIS!!!!"

The Kaor rockstar would watch as the trio charged his concert... how dare they!

With one single movement of his hand, a giant sonic blast would be released from his guitar, his amps echoed and vibrated as the sound went to attack them.

The lesser demon who were subserviant jumped on the chance, high off of fairy dust and other illicits, at least a hundred of them began to swarm them as they charged.

But that didn't stop the Kaor from playing.

"I'M THE DEVIL, I LOVE METAL! CHECK OUT THIS RIFT, IT'S FUCKING TASTY!"

And with those words the greatest rift known to all of mankind would be played, the sheer volume of the sound would launch the lesser demons forward aiding them in getting closer.

"I'M THE DEVIL, I CAN DO WHAT I WANT!

WHATEVER I GOT I'M GONNA FLAUNT!

THERE'S NEVER BEEN A ROCK OFF THAT I'VE EVER LOST~"

This was a fight for their lives, a fight to save the fae and vanquish the demons... Could they do it?

[ Five Round Danger, Final EC ] ( You guys got lucky and bypassed the first, good job FYI. )
[19:54] Wince...

The biggest damnation was that he'd need to take his hands off his ears to fight. If only there was another way...

"Why does it have to be music." Laments the Teraphim as he slowly shuffles behind, a hand upon an arrow that finds itself married to the bowstring of Aschea's Whisper.

"Why couldn't it be lightning?" Continues the grieving Tieru, "Or Wind? I hear good things about shadow.

But--music."

It's spoken with grand derision.

"Make it quick Leni, Armondt." Twinned eyes narrow. "I don't want to suffer through this any longer then I have to."
(Tieru Avlee)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[19:56] "TAKE THI--" Armondt was about to be super duper cool and send out a blast of cosmic magic to disorient the clusters of lesser demons. The orb of cosmic power, however, fizzles out before them, layers peeling through it in mid-air as if a ball of yarn was tossed limply in their direction. It might as well have been the equivalent of magical flatulence.

But that doesn't deter the cowboy courier from rushing on forward to help dole out some Frontier Justice. Innocent fae had their turf impinged upon by these little monsters, and there was no standing for that if he could help it. So, blade in hand, grit gathered, and cosmic energy enshrouding him, Armondt rushes in alongside his companions.

The licks were pretty alright, though. Armondt didn't quite have the aural capacity to figure out why he should enjoy it, but he does. Maybe it was the transgressive abrasiveness in the chords, or the plainly throaty and grizzled bellow of the singer.

Whatever the case was, they were going to take the turf back. "Just cover your ears 'til it's over, Roo," he says, volume all raised up. Hesitation cast aside, they blast their way into a mosh pit.
(Armondt)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[19:59] Leni dares. Leni absolutely dares. She charges forward with full intent to knock in some demon skulls, her crown of flowers bristling with thorns all over. Theses fair folk, just minding their own business and livin' free, have been captured by these demons. Eaten, snorted, and were forcibly part to all manner of vile things.

The demons have not only tainted the land, but they've taken away freedom. Two things that the druid absolutely cannot abide by.

It's loud, the screech of Helish nails on guitar strings that threatens to make her ears bleed. Sure, she could plug her ears, but in defiance the druid hollers back for all she's worth. And she's had lots of practice.

"HEY! HEY YOU!" she calls out, jabbing her staff towards the guitarist as she tries to wade through the mosh pit. "I'M GONNA KNOCK YOUR HEAD IN!"

Because sometimes, just sometimes, you have to kill one thing to let another thing grow.
(Leni)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[20:17] {Won Dangerous RPB against God himself}
[20:23] {NARRATION} Armondt: No Injury

Tieru: 12 Day Temp [ Unhealable for 12 Hours ]

Leni: 12 Day Temp

Whoever got last RP finish off the EC, rest of you can RP of course!
[20:23] {Lost Restrained RPB against Retro DM 2.0}
[20:27] ** Retro DM 2.0 has inflicted an injury upon Leni. ("Faeourm Shriek", "In the midsts of the fight with the demons the Fae around her would shout out into her mind. Her connection to the spirits would be a determient here as they called out to her. Begging and pleading. Her emotions would be connected to them, and a constant ringing in her ear would remind her of today. Eventually this would fade away but it would take time.", "Temporary", "Duration: Long (12 days)") **
[20:31] It was a tremulous, cacophonic bout. You never really understand just how loud the music gets until you're right up on it. The riffs and licks the Kaor Demon strums out on its surely demonic, twisted, and tainted instrument harangue Armondt's ears to the point that it gets rather difficult for him to keep on it. The courier weaves and ducks and swishes this way and that, but he barely manages to keep his head above the proverbial waters of the noise.

Unfortunately, Leni didn't wind up quite as lucky as he did. Tieru, even less so. Armondt wends his way across the battlefield with as much aplomb as he can muster, sending cosmic bursts this way and that, lining the scorched earth around them with celestial explosions. He plants blue-topped trees laden with restorative magics as often as he can, before rushing back into the fray and getting his teeth knocked in for his trouble.

By the end of it, a weary Armondt hunches forward, huffing and puffing, glaring directly at their fae nemesis and the scores of depraved, fairy-snorting demons at its side. He knows his business here.

The courier steels himself, charges cosmically-aspected energy between his palms, and just starts blasting the masses of jonesing monstrosities surrounding the horde's head, allowing Leni and Tieru to get to work. Demon after demon gets obliterated in a multicolored, luminous flurry of blasts, and what work Armondt can't do with magic, he does with his sword.

Against the hordes of those bound from Hel (?), he rips and tears. He rips and tears until it is done.
(Armondt)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[20:34] For now, the Teraphim is content to play a supporting role.

The umbral cacophony of the Kaor Yokai keeps Tieru far from the fray, weaving in and out of the jetstreams of chaos that pour from the guitar of the demon.

Thusly is his contribution not as exceptional as it might otherwise be...

Chains of iron still fling from the ground, conjured from the crust itself as he pours mana through the ground. The sky, too, erupts with darkened beams of umbral light that scourge the ground...

...but it's not enough to truly fell the beast.

Only enough to set up Leni for her final show.

While Tieru lingers at a safe distance, his arcanium implant rumbling violently against the incoming noise...
(Tieru Avlee)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[20:34] There is a lot of noise. It's to be expected from a drug-fueled demon rager deep in what was once fairy territory. Once she saw them huddled in their cages, ground up and snorted, all bets were off.

Her own connection to the fay, a deep tether, causes her to throw caution to the wind. She can feel their pain, their fear, their pleading all echoing in her head over and over as she wades into the mosh pit.

Spikes rise here, a wave of mud crashes there, and all where the roots can reach grow flowers that spew their poisonous, lung-clouding pollen. Normally she'd be one to offer overtures, make some attempt to speak and reason.

Not this time. The druid's driven into a frenzy as she even uses her staff as a bashing implement on the skull of an errant demon or two. It's not over yet though. Not over yet until the fat demon stops his cacophonous singing.

Through sheer force of will and earthen magic, Leni plows her way up through the pit and to the stage where the lead demon pulls his patrons into a frenzy. Up here it's loudest, in her ears and in her head, and she does the first thing that comes to her mind.

A tendril of green reaches out, wrests the demonic axe from its owner, and puts it in her hands instead. She hoists it high, high above her head as she possibly can, then brings it to break over top of the leader's skull. The crashing of strings and whatever other cursed material the instrument was made of echoes.

Then brings blessed silence.
(Leni)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[20:43] {NARRATION} This was one Hel of a fight.

Who knew that the legions of Hel were this savage when hyped up on Fae dust and other drugs unknown to man. The fae would shriek, the demons would roar, the Kaor would play his music with as much force as he could!

Yet they were vanquished. Starlight cut into the lesser demons cleaving then in half, Tireu melted them away with chains and umbral light, Leni freed all the Fae she could and they would leave.

The Kaor himself would melt from all of their attacks, the guitar that he had played destroyed, the intruments gone. Those demons who were not felled by the trio ran into the wind, never to be seen again.

They had done their duty, their promise was fulfilled to the fae, slowly wisps of light would come to the site, and the entrance to the santuary would open for them to enter.
[20:47] Still did the Arcanium ringlet around his head vibrate...

Tieru had a feeling it wouldn't stop for quite some time.

"Well," Concedes the Teraphim as he gazes around. "I suppose it's done, at least.

For now."

If the Fae were vulnerable to be harassed once, they were vulnerable enough to be harassed again. It wasn't a matter of 'if' but 'when', especially so long as the witches and their ilk continue to breed the things.

To Leni he peers, only now approaching the druidess.

"Objective complete," Responds Tieru with a rough smile. "Shall we follow them back?"
(Tieru Avlee)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[20:50] And once the noise ends and the demons scatter, it's over. Leni discards the broken guitar, nudges the fallen demon with her foot, then lifts her head and looks around. Then she laughs. It's hard to hear it over the echoes in her head, but she does.

"Hahaaa! Yeah! We got 'em!" she cheers. Even surrounded by demon gore she can't quite lose all her cheer. It has hiccups, it has bumps where it seems to fade and be replaced by something else, but still there.

The druid's a little off balance, a little addled, but otherwise outwardly whole.

"Yeah, yeah. C'mon. We got to like...we gotta' make sure they're all okay."
(Leni)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[20:50] The hordes of lesser demons get themselves waylaid, blown up, torn to shreds, and blasted to pieces. The courier is covered in viscera and ash and ichor, but he doesn't seem to wind up too bad for it. He huffs, puffs, and shakes his head wearily, before looking back over to Tieru and Leni.

"Yeah, well... hope this at least sent a message to the demons wanderin' around thinkin' of takin' people's homes again. It ain't gonna be taken lightly." That they could come back anytime if they really felt they needed to rip and tear yet again.

"Yeup. Think we got carte blanche to go chill with some fairies." He hefts the blunt of his blade over his shoulder, still covered in gore himself, and follows the rest along to where they ought to go.
(Armondt)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[20:58] {NARRATION} The santuary doors would open and the rest of the fae that were trapped inside came out. Some of them carried a chest and dropped it in front of their heroes, their reward as promised yet they seemingly didn't care.

Quickly the fae would scatter about cleaning up the area, and then probably the most shocking thing. The fae would begin grinding up the demons and stealing their drugs, consuming them for themselves.

Music would begin playing as the fae began their celebration. They were free from the demons and they could finally live their lives again. They were coping the demons, maybe it was a good thing.

Maybe it was bad?

Either way the fae would continue to party, the trio could join... or they could just leave, after all, their reward was right in front of them.
[21:03] Armondt puffs his chest out, smiles, and shuts his eyes, beaming with an obvious, comical level of pride. "Well, thanks ain't needed, but we appre--" The coffer of their rewards hit the ground with a hard thunk, and then he opens his eyes to see... oh. Fairies partying hard by doing pretty much the same things the demons did, though perhaps at less expense.

They were blue and orange, and most mortals were black and white. Maybe it was bset not to question just how they got down into their business. The courier looks over at Leni and Tieru, a pout drawn plain across his face. "Well, er. Gonna guess you're gonna go hit the trail, Tieru. And we oughta do the same." He was already prepared for a couple of different, distinct possibilities.

He snaps over to look at Leni. "Now, Len, if we're gonna spend even a li'l bit of time with 'em, if a fairy offers ya a party favor, don't take it." Armondt was absolutely prepared for her to throw caution to the wind.

...But maybe her weariness would win out? Who knows. He just figured he should deliver the warning.
(Armondt)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[21:04] Armondt also hands an Elixir of Healing and a Lax Essence over in Tieru's direction, considering the Teraphim probably needs it more than he does.
(Armondt)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[21:04] Whether or not the fae were righteous or wicked mattered little.

A promise was made and a promise was kept. If Leni wished to revel with them, so be it. It was no longer his concern. "Of course," His gaze falls upon the Arcanium, scooping it up lightly as he peers towards the two.

"Stay safe."

The elixir is taken, sipped--

--And nothing happens.

The arcanium ringlet continues to vibrate crazily.

"Good..."

A dry, weary word escapes his lips.

"Well, let me know if you need help in the future, Leni."

A nod given to the girl, then towards the man.

"Armondt."

With that, he was off!
(Tieru Avlee)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[21:06] Leni blinks once, but not twice, as the fairies start exacting their poetic justice against the fallen demons. Hey. They'd started it. Somehow this only seemed fitting. A much kinder, less grating tune starts to play.

So long as the fey are in good spirits, the echoes in her head are much more tolerable. The residual effects of their fear, their tiny please, are far less troublesome.

"Thanks! We really did it just to make friends, but we appreciate it!"

A thing given for a service rendered. One thing for another. This also resonates with her and makes perfect sense with her world view.

"We can't just leave now; like, we can party for a lil bit," she replies to Armondt. "Thanks, Roo! We did something nice today, and you really helped. Be safe and stuff!"

And unless someone makes the awful mistake of trying to stop her? Leni absolutely wants to get in on a fairy shindig. For at least a little while. She was also here to make friends, after all.
(Leni)