pipin: confiscation

[17:07] {NARRATION} Clink, clink, clank.

The party is loaded into a canon, like in the Mana series, and fired towards a forest on the outskirts of Myllenoris.

Upon reaching the vast forests it'd take little time to locate the strange light north of their location. While no more than a mere blip within the skies above, it's presence invokes waves of sickly terror that spread throughout the woodlands.

It's no wonder the fae assumed this were the result of the lifestreams defilement.

Deep within foreign territory, surrounded by life yet embraced by the crushing embrace of death and despair, the group has but one choice.

Move forward, or turn back and allow this malice to thrive.
[17:09] Well the departure was a little scary, but hey! They made it to their destination. She stayed close to Yvette nonetheless, covering her mouth at the feeling of sickly presences nearing.

"Oh... Yeah, this is definitely it,"She murmured, swallowing nervously. Glancing over towards the other fae, then back forward, she huffed. "This... This is definitely hurting Mother in some way, her roots are being stifled here."

She turned her attention to her companions! "You're ready?"
(Asterra)
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[17:10] Cannon-flight was not necessarily Yvette's preferred mode of travel, so when flung outwards she spent several minutes after their arrival pouting and making a very big deal about her apron being ruffled. Skirts and attire ordered however, she turns to the two fairies alongside her, a furtive smile given.

"Well.. you probably know more about this lifestream business than I do." But with duster in one hand, and longbow in the other, the maid steels herself for their venture ahead.

"..But! You know I'd not miss such an opportunity Asterra, very much ready."
(Yvette)
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[17:12] Homebound. Well, partially.

Though the clear embrace of the Vale slowly rings as their travels brought them closer and closer unto the Teraphim's holy city, by no means was this peculiar fae's sect found anywhere immediately near within their vicinity.

So, familiar, but not too familiar.

The swirls of the wind swathes and glides, the downdraft practically guiding their movements as the very essence of winded vibrations becomes louder the farther Pipin moves from civilization—an innate defense mechanism.

"Hmmmm." It huffs, the fragrance of roses almost disappearing as the oddity soon rears its head within its senses. The rosebud up its head and the forewings that kept it afloat shifts. A diluted orange differentiates from its neutral carnation, wary. "It seems loud up ahead. Too loud. We tread carefully."

The natural inclination of empathy to the lifestream kicks in. The white noise strides within the audio-sensitive Pipin, it raises it's guard, continuing forth.
(Pipin)
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[17:12] * You have been awarded 1 Roleplay Points! *
[17:20] {NARRATION} Moving through the woodlands isn't a particularly difficult task. Their greatest foe thus far being brambles and vines, things easily dealt with by magic, or a common tool.

Outside of the looming light and dreadful aroma, little is worth garnering attention for the first few minutes of their trip.

Yet, as they travel, they may catch strange whiffs of...

Cherries...

Croissants..

Good times and bad times?

Each member of the group is hit with a different smell lingering within the occasional gust of wind. It's the only oddity they face as a whole thus far.

Pipin, however, can hear something strange. It's an odd sound coming from far ahead, and the deeper they travel into the woods, the more familiar that sounds becomes.

It's eerily familiar to Pipin's favorite song.
[17:22] The whiffs of pleasant things was- strange. She blinked a few times in confusion, halting just a moment and sniffing a little bit more. Turning her head side to side, she furrowed her brow and hovered in close to Yvette.

"Something's... doing- Something's doing weird tricks. I think it's similar to a- uhm, a prank? No.. Why would something so dark prank? Then again-" she coughed a little bit, sniffling.

"I suppose even the dark can pull 'jokes' once in awhile. Are you smelling that, too?" She glanced over at the others.
(Asterra)
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[17:23] The difficult of woodland travel is in part lessened by their combined efforts. Yet where the fairies flit and fly effortlessly, a series of revolving, levitating blades hovers like manipulated sattelites around Yvette.

These airborne flechettes serve to press on, towards the scents and sounds which seemed so out of place deep inside the Vale's forest. Her wrinkles in thought, ".. Hm, a bit odd indeed."

"I smell it, -... not sure how.." She swallows, the croissants which carried on air bringing a lump in her throat.

"We'll find out soon, right?"
(Yvette)
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[17:26] Dancing amidst the woods, it was almost natural for the fae to move through its passages with ease. Unlike most of the known Essharan fae, this one had bore much recluse to the wilds rather than the comfort of walls and the company of human hearts.

So much so that the speeding presence glide far enough to catch the scent of a particular aroma in moments.

Well. Moreso heard an aroma.

The distant tune of its people. The memories of collections past, almost alluring Pipin into a sense of ease.

"Wait. I hear something," it chimes. "I... I think one of my people is nearby."
(Pipin)
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[17:33] {NARRATION} The further they travel the more powerful the scents and sounds become. The source of which becomes nigh obvious.

Up ahead they can spot a clearing in the woods. Several winged creatures seemingly flutter about. Some holding cherries, some holding croissants, some singing what to one might seem a familiar tune.

Yet, every so often, one of these small winged creatures goes off key. Seemingly intentionally defiling a precious memory.

As they continue to make their way through the woods, the moment they come close to the treeline, mere yards away from the clearing itself...

The smells, the sounds, all vanish in an instant.

What stands in the center of the clearing is a massive abomination with black ichor trailing down it's frame. It has no legs, it's arms and face are warped, and it's torso appears to be distorted. Each time it's lips part, an awful wail escapes it.

Each time it slithers across he ground, it's occultic taint becomes obvious, as the land around it withers and dies.

Thankfully, it hasn't seemed to spot the group just yet.
[17:37] The Fae seemed to be intent on flying towards them, especially once she saw those winged creatures about. Her eyes lit up, and she seemed to zoom forth ahead of the group for a mere few moments- before suddenly...

The smell, the sound, the visuals. They all vanished in that mere moment. She nearly screeched in surprise and horror, but thankfully covered her mouth before such happened.

Immediately darting to hide behind Yvette, she squeezed her eyes shut and whispered softly,"W-what a terrible creature..."
(Asterra)
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[17:40] The façade, within the millisecond it drops, brings a painful lurch across the abdomen of the carnation fae. The effects kick in just as swift as the illusion dissipates.

As an experience, it were sickening. "That is not one of my people."

On deceit alone, the frills of orange burns an inking red as clear disdain had fallen unto Pipin. The occultic revelation had brought along an uproar audible only to the fae, the ringing static dared to send it deaf as the sheer proximity to it alone had caused such a ruckus.

"But I do not want to getting close to any of them." The springing vibrations chide as the around within the small vicinity of the fae rumbles.

It had not pounced from their hidden state yet, but its intentions were clear.
(Pipin)
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[17:42] The discord between what is familiar and distinctly otherwise only grows greater as the trio make their way closer to the source of the scents and sounds. Winged creatures which ring a hulking terror-.. enough so to bring a grimace to Yvette's features.

Frozen in place, it's only the others' words' which snap her from the stupefied horror.

".. We'll go around, yes?"

Already the maid's flighty instincts bring the dulled flash of archaic scriptures sewn into the hem of her attire. Illusory arts which deflect, distract, and distort reality as a means of bodily defense.

Though breath is shaky, she hugs close to the smaller creatures, in spite of her large size.
(Yvette)
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[17:42] Pipin says, "*want it getting"
[17:43] Asterra says, "No.. we have to eliminate it. It's corrupting- so much..."
[17:43] Yvette asks, ".. You're sure?"
[17:45] Asterra says, "Yes, of course."
[17:45] Yvette says, "Right.. ehm, right. If you believe it the best course, Asterra."
[17:45] Yvette grimaces, steeling herself.
(Yvette)
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[17:48] {NARRATION} Bzzzt.

While it can't quite feel the vibrations around the fae, this creature turns it's disfigured face towards Pipin.

Something akin to a smile spread across it's face, and it begins to play that familiar song once more.

Yet this time, the sounds of Pipin's sect are distorted and anguished.

As it pulls from Pipin's very memories for the sole sake of corrupting them.

A waft of occult mana flows from the creature as it shakes and hums, seemingly readying itself for an attack.
[17:53] {Won Dangerous RPB against ???}
[17:57] The young Fae twirled about, trying her best to make sure that her companions were alright. With every blast of darkness that struck her, she summoned forth her aura to try and mend the damages both to herself and the remainder of the nature around them.

She was nearly down, nearly struck when the horrifying creature seemed to finally fall. Afterwards, she hovered back and wheezed inwards, coughing a few times.
(Asterra)
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[17:59] Dripping with malignant energies, it was a force which Yvette had yet to confront in her life. Yet so she did alongside the two faefolk, bow drawn and metal haft thrumming with the runic energy set into its flank.

Marks and scripture which spoke to alacrity and beseeched the wind itself to send each bolt sailing into its target.

Though a foe unknown... it was not unlike any other, she came to find. It bled, albeit a foul black substance... but bleed it did. Constructs of steel and raw pig-iron boil out of the earth, as if forged in the soil itself.

Monolithic prisms and shapes bombard and harass their inhuman foe.

All the while, each presented it with avenues of defeat ascribed of their own magical onslaught. In end? It was the trio standing victorious.

"Uwah…"
(Yvette)
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[18:02] A taste of the fae's own medicine in some aspect. Though it does not pull and consume, it pushes forth its own agenda through siphoned information. A bastardization of its innate abilities.

An insult, to say the least.

With the crackle of static rising with the sudden influx of occult mana flung into its attacks, the noise grows loud; in-turn, desperation to silence such a racket rises parallel to it.

The vibrations of the wind ring and churn as the very earth quakes in retaliation. It pulsates, breaking apart the abomination's form in rapid strikes, the fae keen on both cleansing and ending the infernal noise this creature expunged.

Pipin's song rises, the tune of an archaic language thrums; its familiarity only falling to Asterra's understanding: a song of give and take.

As the creature fell does the symphonious song of the fae pipe down. Partial to exhaustion, the mana that reverberated off of Pipin's skin softens. The wings revert to its pinkish glow as the returned silence calms the creature once more.

"Aiyah, good work!" It chimes, its feral anger almost disappearing in mere seconds.
(Pipin)
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[18:14] {NARRATION} When the creature falls...

It's form concaves. It's damaged and battered body pulls inward until all that remains is a single sphere. A fate far less damning that what could have been when facing against three magic users on it's lonesome.

As that solid sphere crashes into the ground, the land around them seemingly ripples.

The trees, the land, the sky, they all move like a pond surface when met with a pebble.

Small cracks within the land and sky form. Those cracks spread outward until they shatter.

…

All around the group lies ruin.

Tiny houses lie crushed, fae corpses litter tiny roads and habitable trees. That once distance source of light seems closer, so much closer, no more than five hundred yards to the north. So close? They could see it for what it truly is.

A tear in reality.

A hole in the lifestream.

Something in the distance seems to be circling it, a shadowy figure with features than can't quite be discerned at such a distance.

With the death of the illusionary creature, they're allowed to see what truly rests within these woods.

One fallen village of fae, and one dreaded mark upon the world.

…

Sweep, sweep.

Sweep, sweep.

From around the corner of a collective of houses arrives a shadowy figure adorning no more than a broom. Sweeping up the fae corpses while mumbling to itself.
[18:18] The young Fae sighed in relief when the creature fell, and yet- it concaved, the damage seeming to have been pulled, inwards, inwards, and suddenly, it was colliding into the ground.

The area around them- the land, the sky, the foliage- it all changed for a moment, like a ripple of water. She covered her head, eyes widening.

…

The ruins of the fae made her eyes widen impossibly more. Her mouth opened in shock, possibly uncertain of what to think. She saw the crystalized bodies, the different amounts of dust and crushed bodies.

Her mouth once again was covered, but this time so she didn't making a choking noise. Her eyes squeezed shut, and she whimpered in a weak manner.

"W-what do we do? No.. They're with Mother now... W-we need to close..." She whispered to herself, trying to hold herself together.
(Asterra)
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[18:19] With victory comes the elation that one associates with triumph-...

Only to last so long.

As illusory veil falls and the world is made apparent for what it truly is, Yvette's smile falters. Her entire expression caught in the throes of relief is turned in a somersault.

A quiet exhale of shock.. and horror at the sight before them is all she can muster at that very moment. Her flats clack across the cobbled streets of what was once a fae village.

Hand clutching at her chest, and the high, starched-white collar which crowns her blouse.

"Oh." The blonde squeaks.

Tentative step taken forward, her vision is just as captivated by the shadowy figure which mulls over the miniature genocide that had taken place. Attention flitting from broom back to the individual that held it.

"Ehm.. hello?"
(Yvette)
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[18:22] An attack on the senses. The best descriptor of whatever this had become.

The pile of its kind, the unending volume of noise, all joined by the showing of a glaring problem.

When faced by those of undeath and the occult, the ring of white noise invade the senses of Pipin like ink on a shirt. Yet when faced by a literal hole in the flow of the Lifestream, it were akin to a broken French horn playing one continuous note upon one's ear. Painful, irritating, out-of-key.

By no means is this song one worth keeping within one's midst.

Hence, upon the revelation of the gap, there was clearly only one thing to do: "We need to fix that," it chimes, a pointed index finger gesturing toward the light up ahead.

It drifts toward Yvette's flank, eyed toward the janitor-esque figure with clear intent. "The heck do you think you're doing?" It interrogates, the flow of clear displeasure riding across the tiny creature's features.
(Pipin)
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[18:23] {Item} You picked up Dark Call. Dropped by ???..
[18:31] {NARRATION} "Dinner at seven...at eight...at seven. No, no, the master always eats at seven...

...yet ours dines at eight...

Ours is never home, always busy, so busy.

Busy, busy.

Seven, eight, nine..."

This creature mumbles as it continues to sweep, paying little attention to the group, seemingly focused on sweeping up the fae corpses while debating with itself.

"Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm?"

Yet, as Yvette approaches it snaps it's head in her direction. As the shadows dance around the creature one could perhaps mistake a few of the shadowy wisps it adorns as frills.

"Hey. Hi. Hello. Welcome to the ADS;FfalfjeaALRHhIRONOJFLADLKFgRIMMOREJFALpELLEUXJFLA;SOLies;alsdjfDuranfjlladj

Residence.

Are you here to see the misses, the master, the young master, the princess, the starsaredeadjustlikeyourgod."

She tilts her head. Red eyes manifest where a face should be and shift between the two living fae.

"I am cleaning.

It is my duty to clean.

Our duty?

My duty.

The duty."

It pauses for a moment before tilting it's head.

"Are you here to be cleaned?"
[18:33] The young Fae stared at the... demonic looking creature that was acting as if a maid would. In some ways, she understood what she was talking about, but at the same time, this creature was- desecrating her kin's bodies.

Swallowing nervously, she glanced at the others, before holding her hands forward. "... W-we're here to clean this place of its influence, to heal Mother's Roots. ARe you going to stop us?" She asked, shakily.

It was clear that she didn't want to fight something that she could actually somewhat empathize with, but she would do it if she must.
(Asterra)
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[18:35] Whilst it was naught but living nightmare which seemed to rise out of the atmosphere around them, Yvette's attentions are quickly stolen in sole focus upon the shadowy figure who approaches her.

A polite smile is put on for the ethereal stranger, that's what one did for strangers, no? The hardcoded functions of courtesy and hospitality come online in Yvette's fear-addled mind.

"Hello! Yes..- er… no we don't need cleaning. We're here to fix things." A glance is made to the broom and that gruesome mess it attends, ".. Just like you, no?"

Hands fold over her apron, flinching once at the sight of red eyes.

".. Our duty, if you will."

Falling silent again, the strain of amiability shows on her countenance.
(Yvette)
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[18:37] Uneasiness flutters as the being before them poses an uncanny address. The contours of it is humanoid, yet the mere glances of it alone had brought the fae much discomfort, an innate intuition before it even completes its dialogue.

Whilst the others lean upon idle conversation, carrying on from the discussion posed by the creature's, Pipin holds no like-minded regards to such.

"I asked you first! What do you think you're doing?" The swept children of Yggdrasil remain clumped upon the being's broom. The lost souls of fairies clear as day, with the young fae only bearing one single point to pour all the blame upon.

The winds fall silent, only to buffet into a harsh breeze as intimidation tactics flounder about. "Aiyah, did you or did you not have a hand in that? In this?"
(Pipin)
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[18:44] {NARRATION} "Oh."

The shadowy figure stands up straight, almost addressing the group in a proper manner.

Yvette's smile is returned with it's own, and it gives the group a curtsey.

"I cleaned this village up at the behest of my masters orders."

The strange broom within it's hands is gripped tightly and the shadowy creature begins to sway.

"Our duties conflict. Yours. Mine.

Ours."

Dozens of shadows break free from this creature, all sporting a similar frame; dozens of maid-like creatures with shadowy frills, crimson eyes, and inhuman bodies stand firm behind this dark maiden.

"It seems we missed a spot."

Their voices join in unison as a torrent of murky waters manifest up above.
[18:49] "Oh."

A polite blink greets the devolution of diplomacy, several shadowy maids parting from the form of its singular host. She swallows, the bow still in hand grasped in tightening, white knuckles.

"Well that won't really do."

Her smile begins to wane.

"Not a bit."

Perhaps it began to sink in, or the numbness of her chest quelled the fear which pattered inside. A deep swallow of air steadies the maid, prepared to take care of those which stood in their way.

Those which surely had a hand in this atrocity against the lifestream.
(Yvette)
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[18:51] Intentions are revealed, the hand that swayed all this becomes present. At this point, the next step were clear, as vivid as the chord of an instrument within a silent room.

Hands perch upon the center of the fairy's frame, the swirls of its own memories past pulls free from its shackles, clattering in unison as its own song sings upon the wind.

From its own presence, the mirror images of its kind flutter amok the air. Spectral figures manifested through the wind as each one join the ensemble that dared to mute the creature responsible for such a massacre.

"No. I don't think you will." A response chides, the noise moving to drown the very shadows it conjured.
(Pipin)
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[19:02] {Won Dangerous RPB against Dark Maiden}
[19:05] The flood of water was easy to get lost in. Though she could see somewhat clearly through the flood of dark water, she couldn't easily navigate. Nonetheless, it seemed that her companions were more than capable of navigation in this torrent.

She twirled and spun around the area, throwing down her own clean, purified puddles of water in hopes of making it so that the darkened liquid was washed away.

Perhaps that was it, because her purifying waters managed to shove the flood back enough for one of the others to perform the final strike upon the 'maid' coated in dark shadows.

She lowered her hands afterwards, breathing in and out in a wheezing manner.
(Asterra)
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[19:08] The bevy of umbral maids fills the streets of the fae-folk village spun to a grisly mausoleum to the small creatures. Disrupted in their venture forward, Yvette blanches at the dark mockery of her lifes work.

Fel maids of shadowed figure flit to and fro, attempting to 'clean up' Yvette and others.

Shards of silverware fill the air and come in sharp hail that clatters into cobblestones and shadowy maids alike. Though unlike Yvette, these maids clearly weren't schooled in the arts of hospitality.

Such a rectification she dolled out devoid of prejudice.

"Fwah…" She groans, the wispy shapes disappearing one by one, combat coming to a close. Eyes scan the streets of the erstwhile village, ensuring such was the last of them.


(Yvette)
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[19:10] Three of them against an army of maids.

Yeah.

Whilst the others vied to lock down the servant as it sends into mirrors against them, Pipin moves to swash through the current as the ripples of vibrations seem to pull forth the waters back in retaliation.

A seething tune strikes against the maiden's army, shredding through them as the fae of memories stride to move past them; aimed to charge against the head of the group.

It zooms ebbing closer until it drifts merely feet away from its countenance as it prepares for a dastardly strike.

As a chord plays from the fae's wingbeats, the earth reacts much like an audience claps for an encore. It bursts, crushing parts of the shadow as it too makes a strike back.

As Pipin offers the opening its allies needed, it would be promptly washed back as the maid returns the favor, sending the fae flying with a burning wave of bleach. "NO."

It'll be fine.
(Pipin)
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[19:15] Asterra exclaims, "W-wait! Pipin oh no!"
[19:15] Yvette says, "Oh dear..."
[19:19] {NARRATION} Their flood is pushed back. One by one they fall due to vibrations and weaponized silverware. As each shadowy figure fades into the either something of a relieved sigh can be heard. This repeats until the final shadow is bested, said shadow relinquishing the grip upon a broom of old.

It raises it's fading hand to perform it's last duty as a maiden, sending forth a wave of bleach towards Pipin.

As the battle comes to an end, the already ruined fae village is water-logged. Rather than filled with swept and piled corpses, several cadavers float alone, giving the waters a peculiar shine.

Up above and to the north a single figure seems to float around the crack within reality. It isn't far away, and now nothing stands between the trio and that terrible tear within the lifestream.
[19:25] Like a small sea, Yvette winces as she wades her way further towards the tear ahead flickering with light and shadow alike.

Grumbling under her breath, she bemoans the state of her water-logged shoes, and the new tights she'd put on that very morning. This disastrous state of affairs was stayed for the time being of course, much more momentous matters still stood at hand.

A squint is paid in the direction of their ultimate target.

Broom collected from its former owner... the wooden haft felt good in her hands. As if the broom itself was meant to wielded by Yvette herself. This small home-like comfort amidst the nightmare they trekked through, was enough to keep her contented for now.

At least for Asterra's sake...
(Yvette)
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[19:25] Once the shadowy figure of the maid faded into nothingness, the last one anyway, she blinked a few times and stared around. Sucking in a deep breath, she gripped her skirt and stared over at the others.

"I think,"She began,"The cause of the tear is nearby. I-if we could just, handle doing the rest of this, Mother's root will feel much better, I just know it!" SHe tried to be optimistic, but she was entirely concerned about Pipin.

Fluttering over, she held her hands forward slowly,"Pipin…?" She quietly murmured, obviously worried for the poor fae.
(Asterra)
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[19:25] The cleansing liquid strides and douses the fae off as the fight drolled to an end. Skin is singed by the sheer exposure to such a substance, yet most are superficial at best.

Whisking its wing as dripples of white fall and dry off, Pipin rises once more, the winds innately moving in to dry the being off.

"I don't like maids," it utters. The sheer tonnage almost came through like the down-trodden end of a child's tantrum. It does however pipe up once more, facing the one allied to them as it corrects itself. "Except you Yvette."

Fluttering forward, the fae gestures toward the path ahead. The presumed 'master' of the foe the had faced stood before the outcropping of the tare in the Lifestream.

"There!" Pipin chides. "We need ot hurry." Whatever damages it could be leaving behind is unknown to the group. Hence haste would be most integral.
(Pipin)
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[19:26] Asterra says, "Okay...! Let's go."
[19:26] Yvette says, "Right, right.."
[19:26] Yvette says, "Aha I knew what you meant Pipin... absolutely."
[19:37] {NARRATION} The closer they approach, the more the feeling of dread piles up. For those attuned to the lifestream, they could practically hear it screaming as they closed the gap between themselves and the wicked tear.

Several shadows and specters spill forth from the rip, flying off in various directions, all while a tiny cackle picks up in volume. Louder and louder the cackle grows, only ceasing when the cackler decides to speak.

"Almost...almost there.

Almost finished. Just a bit more..."

The creature they'd seen hovering before descends, seemingly teleporting around the crack with ease.

"...ah, ah?"

Only when it notices the group and pauses can they get a clear image of it.

What was once akin to a fae stares at the group with crimson beady eyes. Horns protrude from it's skull, and it's wings appear to be entirely mutated. "...well to whom do I owe the pleasure? Mmm?"

It's gaze shifts beyond them and towards the village, canting it's head to the side.

"I don't recall you being friend nor foe of the village, so why have you come- hm, hm?"

[19:40] The young, naïve Fae stared with wide eyes at the sight before her. A creature that might've been her kin had been corrupting this place, destroying its inhabitants, cruelty flooding from it.

Her body shook, her mouth trembled. SHe wanted to scream, to ask what the hel it was doing. So she did.

"W-what are you.. Why!? Why are you doing this!? We came here to help mend Mother's roots and you're- You're hurting her! Don't you understand that you're hurting her!?" She screamed out, holding her hands to her chest while feeling the pain of the world around her.

"Why would you ever do this...!?"
(Asterra)
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[19:41] Following in step, she stops just short of the tear in reality itself, swallowing in pause beside Asterra. The ambient horror rubs off on Yvette, steady in place as she stares up at the winged monstrosity... no longer recognizable as fae or otherwise.
(Yvette)
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[19:43] As their arrival invokes the reveal of the final perpetrator, it would occur to the group that perhaps it was clear how one would discover such an hidden village of one of Esshar's most elusive of creatures.

The noise blurts through from the ripping hole as the make-up of a fallen fae soon lurches into view.

With the grit of its teeth and a squint of its eye, the hand upon Pipin's sides quiver. To think, if one like this is capable of enacting such atrocity to a village of this caliber, what of its own?

In silence, it stares forth, almost anticipating a monologue; along with stripping it the satisfaction of even pushing an initial conversation with it.

Instead, Pipin merely anticipates. The recluse of its vibrations chide, hidden within its form, yet ready to unleash when an opening is set.

Mayhaps it were waiting for a call from Asterra themselves.
(Pipin)
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[19:52] {NARRATION} "That's a sacrifice that I...

...am willing to make!"

This corrupted being floats around while actively trying to open the tear even wider, pulling apart the lifestream at the seams.

"As for why...!

That should be rather obvious, is it not?"

This creature flutters upon it's mutated wings and hums and hisses, clearly gleeful about all it's done.

"To meet the Dark Lord, of course."

It waves it's hands rather dismissively as it attempts to provide some sort of an explanation. "They were there for me when most of the village scorned me. All because I used a bit of occult to ward off a threat some time ago."

The fae rolls it's eyes.

"It's as they say. The child that fails to get the villages warmth attains it by burning the village down.

Or something like that.

I can't be bothered to remember boring human addages."
[19:53] The young Fae screamed a little bit louder, holding her head as the Life stream was torn just slightly wider. She was angry. For once in her life, she was enraged. Squeezing her eyes shut, she sobbed out.

"That- I'm sorry that was the case, but you can't.. You can't...!" She lifted her head up,"We're going to help mend Mother's Roots, so... Stand down and let us do it, or you'll need to face us, okay!?"

She was trying her best not to be aggressive, but it was so hard... So damn hard.
(Asterra)
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[19:55] The wails of the lifestream even inflicted themselves upon the maid, who almost takes a step back in face of the abomination which flits about before them. Bow to hand, she stands in shoulder with Asterra-.. a figurative shoulder, the far was quite tiny.

Though unspeaking, her expression wavers, trying to keep up a braver face than she truly wished to let on.

Her accompaniment was not hollow, however... she came for just as well the reason of aiding her fae companion.
(Yvette)
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[19:56] As Sasuke Uchiha the fairy proves its hand in the demise of its family, the thrum and cries of the Lifestream pulses.

"That's all I wanted to hear, really." In an instant, the fae swerves as the wind beneath its wings once more manifest the chords to a ballad of battle.

It flutters and circles toward the flank of the tainted being, the wings of Pipin returning to the vibrancy of red.

"All. I. Need. To hear."

In a surge of power does a charge of vibrations manifest into a visual wave, aimed precariously upon the gap of the focusing space, aimed to disturb and stop the ritual before its completion. If Asterra wasn't going to strike, Pipin was.
(Pipin)
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[20:06] {NARRATION} The fairy stares at Pipin with red bleeding eyes.

When Asterra claims that it'll be stopped, when Pipin aims to put an end to the ritual, dozens of meteors begin to descend from the starry skies above.

"Nonononono.

I've put entirely too much effort into all this. I'm but one step away.

One!"

Reality cracks and bends around this creature and it's mutated form shifts further. It's wings grow and it's shell cracks, it's horns elongate and it's teeth...

Become teethier.

"I'll destroy you all!"
[20:07] Yvette exclaims, "Goodness gracious...!"
[20:07] Asterra says, "Please... be careful you two."
[20:12] Yvette says, "we did it."
[20:24] {Won Deadly RPB against ???}
[20:37] {NARRATION} As the group pushes against the fae, it's focus wanes. It's wholly unable to provide the concentration required to open a rift proper. During it's moments of instability several nethradin manage to spill free and into the world, yet it fails to do much more damage as it's grasp upon the tear wanes with each and every blow.

The combined might of fae and maid force this creatures connection to the rift to be outright severed. Several runes upon the ground shine powerfully bright before fading out of existence. With it's fading, the tear closes rapidly, leaving behind but a seam, a scar upon the lifestream.

Several fragments fall from this mending portal, one particularly large one contains an abundance of mana.

"No, no, no!"

The small creature screams out in defiance as it's unable to best it's challengers. "Everything I worked for, everything I suffered for, gone? Did my village die for nothing?!"

It's small arms raise and in a last act of defiance it brings forth a condensed ball of cosmic stardust upon Asterra, shrouding her frame in a sphere of black cosmic mana. This potentially being it's final act, as this desperate lashing out leaves the creature unguarded and wide open for assault.
[20:42] Asterra was in pain already, not from anything physical, but rather because that tear in the rift was so close, was so real. She did everything she could to help defeat the Fallen Fae. Yet it wasn't her that did the final blow.

She would note the tear beginning to close rapidly, the seam becoming similar to a scar. She gasped, the feeling of pain beginning to fade. Enough for her concentration on the fallen fairy to stutter for just a moment.

It was enough, as suddenly, she was pretty much absorbed straight into the condensed ball of black, cosmic mana. At first she saw nothing but darkness.

THen she felt pain. Pain worse than the tear which was so nearby. She was screaming, unable to hear the others if they were saying anything. She was crying out for something to spare her from the pain that she was so unused to.

Slowly, her own cosmic mana began to fight back, hoping to quell the agony which awaited her. It would last until the others finished the fae off, surely.
(Asterra)
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[20:45] The rift-marked fae is cast back, combined efforts sending him tumbling in end of all things. Exertion apparent on Yvette's features, she staggers just short of the rift as it flickers and ripples in air.

Yet with their foe finally laid low, her vision suddenly snaps towards Asterra. Stumbled in gasped shock, the maid skitters across the excess of their ad hoc battlefield to where the fae fought in combat with the oppressive mana.

Meters from Asterra, Yvette stops with a fretful wince.

Assuredly... the fae would be alright, eventually. Though no professional of the medical arts, the fidgeting blonde calls out awkwardly.

"Doing alright, Asterra?"

Rocking back and forth on the balls of her feet, she glances around.

Well, that was it, wasn't it?
(Yvette)
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[20:52] The barrage falters. With each beat of the tune, the harrowing charges of the winds dare to render the opposition to razor cuts.

The aftershocks bursts, turning the locale of the ritual spot into difficult terrain. Whereas it were once the frolicking spots to a multitude of fae families, now was nothing more but a graveyard on the edge of its final legs.

As the rift begins the closing remarks would focus shift from disrupting the ritual itself... to the maestro of all this.

Whilst the remainder of the group chides to keep things afloat, a sudden burst of the earth clashes into a stalagmitic cage, imprisoning the creature and holding it in-place.

"Yeah. It did." It chides, brimming with bursts of sound that dare to rupture ear drums. Its voice is somber, yet an authoritative addition to it clings unto each word. The voice of Pipin seems to grow in magnitude to the tainted fae and the fae alone. "And it's all your fault."

A hand graces the perpetrator's visage, fingers laced to lay upon its forehead with intent. "But you will not be able to do this again."

And in seconds, the pulses of Pipin's visage shakes. A song, native only to the ears of this peculiar target, plays. One nostalgic to them, mayhaps a song popularized within the very village that had shunned it.

The essence of the being shifts. The matter of a creature's mind is nothing to the ancient arts of the sect that had brought upon this technique. The vibrations motion as... a pulse almost sends the creature limp.

Pulling free its finger, Pipin unveils the glimmer of golds, absorbed merely within a hidden pouch. A stolen memory, that of the secrets to riftmancy. By all means, even if it wanted to, this creature would no longer understand the nuances of such an ability's knowledge.

Confiscated for the greater good.
(Pipin)
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[21:09] "My fault, my fault. This is their fault, they--…!"

Upon hearing that familiar song it's mind floats adrift. As the memories of it's many years of learning how to tear apart reality fade, so too fade the memories of the creature that taught it such a dreadful art.

This corrupted fae stares onward wide-eyed as a key factor in it's corruption is stolen away. It stares down, glaring at it's hands in confusion as it drinks in this familiar song.

Remembering a time when it manifested into the world and departed from the mother tree, found a village near the vale and begin to hone it's various crafts, protected the village from a group of witches during ancient times, finding itself treated with concern since the day it openly used the dark arts.

It stares at it's hands, trembling and shaking, before collapsing and falling unconscious to the ground. Murmuring a single 'thank you' before it's dome crashes into the soils bellow.

With the tear in the sky sealed, and this fae's reign of terror, the group finds themselves victorious on this day.

[Event concluded]

(???)
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[21:09] {NARRATION} "My fault, my fault. This is their fault, they--…!"

Upon hearing that familiar song it's mind floats adrift. As the memories of it's many years of learning how to tear apart reality fade, so too fade the memories of the creature that taught it such a dreadful art.

This corrupted fae stares onward wide-eyed as a key factor in it's corruption is stolen away. It stares down, glaring at it's hands in confusion as it drinks in this familiar song.

Remembering a time when it manifested into the world and departed from the mother tree, found a village near the vale and begin to hone it's various crafts, protected the village from a group of witches during ancient times, finding itself treated with concern since the day it openly used the dark arts.

It stares at it's hands, trembling and shaking, before collapsing and falling unconscious to the ground. Murmuring a single 'thank you' before it's dome crashes into the soils bellow.

With the tear in the sky sealed, and this fae's reign of terror, the group finds themselves victorious on this day.

[Event concluded]
[21:12] When the cosmic energy fled from her, she was out of breath. Coated in dark cosmic energy, her eyes were wide and completely out of it for a few seconds. Upon hearing Pipin speak, however, she snapped back to a more lucid state.

"... Pipin, Yvette..." She glanced side to side, before smiling awkwardly,"W-we did it,"She whispered, before shivering and picking up one of the tiny pieces of physically manifested roots from her Mother.

She stared at it, before looking back to where the tear in the sky once was. Swallowing nervously, she turned to the others,"Well, who's ready for a cannon shot back home?"
(Asterra)
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[21:14] A practice honed by the most elusive of fae creatures, the glimmer of information is plucked free, collected and held within the collection as the hold of the earth loosens.

The oppression is free, its abilities to tamper with the Lifestream being no more.

Slowly, Pipin drifts back, content by all means. The Lifestream had been saved, the perpetrator too being pacified. If anything, the groaning silence and the loss of static was... enlightening.

"Yeah. We did." It beams a cheeky grin, like a switch had sent it from its initial visage back into the childish demeanor it was grown to default to. "Hopefully, this'll be the last they try to do this."

"Either way... I call shotgun on the cannon back."
(Pipin)
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[21:14] With body slumped from the day's exhaustion, she glances aside to the duo, almost not quite believing what had been accomplished thus far. With the fel energies dissipating, so too did the object of their venture.

"We did... hohh…"

Panting and wheezing, the blonde's hands drop to her knees for support.

She grimaces.

"Cannon...…"
(Yvette)