3/20 Bleeding Hearts (High CoD)

The White Wastes.

A large swathe of desert stained with rumours of missing persons, of misfortune and occultic malady.

It is here that the Clown Prince and his compatriots have tracked rumours and aged lore, trailing clues and trails that had lain forgotten.

Yet without fortune they would not have even progressed as far as this- as within Dun’s search for the bloody cult, he had drawn notice of a prominent non-magi scholar within Theria. A non-magi scholar who, coincidentally, had been researching the cult for far longer than the clown himself.

Perhaps more conveniently, this scholar had discovered the location of the temple- or, at the least, enough of its location to find it. They simply needed a team of magi to accompany them, both for purposes of canvassing the site and protecting them from the dangers that undoubtedly lie within.

Such is how this group of exceedingly powerful magi and demonesses have found themselves trekking through seemingly endless dunes of pale sand at an agonizingly slow rate for a magi, unable to utilize their full speed from necessity of the scholar they bring with them- they require his knowledge both to find the temple and, once it has been found...get within.

Eventually, thankfully, they spot the structure over the horizon as they crest a large dune- a towering pyramid, peak pointed high to the sky, half-buried within those white stands- made of dark, blackened stones, standing clear from all directions.

The entrance stands clear afront the temple, framed by obelisks of that same black rock- many of which have collapsed, blocking the path, yet some still remain. Unfortunately, as they approach, it is apparent one such obelisk collapsed into the entrance- partially caving it in, such so that it would be difficult for them to enter without first clearing the rubble from the entrance.


 Well then.

Here he was. His last adventure before his eventual demise.

What happens?
(Sajid)
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 Ah yes, an adventure on such SHORT notice. Hel, the last time the cat had even spoken with Dun was when the clown prince of crime had brutally beat him down. Which was y'know, a very great first meeting, but that's just how energy magi communicated with each other.

Or something like that.

Anyways, into the desert he went, with... Three fucking boomers. Holy shit. Everyone here was like, twenty years older than him. This is so sad...

Anyways, the cat would simply follow behind his father, a clown, and someone who's about to become dust.

"Soooo, what're we doing?"
(Dusk)
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… How was he here again when he had a kid at home? It mattered little in the end, the Lunaris remained on beck and call for his true Commander; Even if they left Osrona long, long ago.

Not to mention this was partially for the Energy Circle as well.

As the structed peaks in the distance Caelus would hold a hum. It'd be one Hel of a journey again-- He'd already been to Hel, so how would this go exactly? Mythril continued to clack away as they traversed through the sand... The Watch's cloak a terrible choice for such a venture.

Yet he still wore it with pride.

"My guess is going into there and snagging something, but..." Those Mythril orbs roll their way towards Dun's general direction. "Elaborate if you wish to. Stars know a surprise is more fun than knowing what's in store.

What could possibly go wrong, after all?"
(Caelus Lunaris)
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 Dun would pace forth boldly and blindly into the depths of the desert with his stalwart, mercenary companions, nodding blindly to young Dusk, Sajid, and his successor Caelus as the hollow sockets of his eyeholes sat protected by his burn worn mask.

To think he'd borne it so long after killing Crowley, to become a far worse and more dangerous clown than he'd ever come into conflict with. There was some comedy to that.

The clown prince was getting old. Fourty and counting, he had maybe ten good years left before he was out of his prime, and a warlord he could no longer be. But he had found a home in Theria like he'd never truly had in Osrona, a city he believed in and wanted to make stronger.

He would give Theria all head before then, and then he would retire at last. But he had machinations still to see through, and a project spanning decades to at last complete. That of the final ingredient in his noble quest to assemble a legacy for all those that followed his fist.

The blood copper...at last.

Dun would glance over the rubble as they came to a stop for a time in confusion, seeing no true barrier with his lack of eyes and general bold fearlessness. Upon the implication that there was a blockade, the clown warlord would chuckle lightly before igniting forth in a radiant, dense blue shroud of pulsating mana, his musculature surging forth within the worn jester's robes and black plate as he cupped his palms with a smile.

"No fear."

Gathering and condensing energy into a concentrated, burning hot orb within his palms, the clown would infuse all of his mastered resolve within its might before releasing a great beam of kinetic energy and concentrated mana at the rubble.
(Dun)
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 {NARRATION} Clearing the rubble had taken little time for the assembled magi- even if, perhaps, they were unable to return the opening to its once grand proportions, it would be suitable for the group to enter.

Once within, the scholar led them along with an unusual level of knowledge- leading them along according to an aged, weathered map. Each step deeper felt tainted with occultism, clouded with the stale dust of dead air and rot- every dozen paces coloured by a skeleton, either whole or shattered to pieces.

Moving through numerous passageways, seemingly as a maze- it is certain that without the aid of the scholar, the group would have been lost. Yet they are not without his aid, and they find themselves within- after what felt as if hours of walking through half-collapsed, darkened halls- a large, circular room.

Appearing as if an arena, they find themselves stood at the top of what appear to be the stands of the colosseum itself. Bones and frayed cloth abounds throughout the room, far greater in concentration than the halls passed through afore, and blood stains give the dark room a truly macabre feel.

Within the pit in the center of the room, the gladiatorial arena itself, lies a colossal beast. First glance reveals that it may not even be alive- flesh sunken to its bones, motionless upon the floor.

Yet then it stirs. Slowly, and with clearly strenuous effort, the thing lifts its head- eyes open to reveal dark orbs, as if an abyss in of themselves. It is, at first, uncertain if it has noticed them as it brings itself to a wobbling stand.

It’s only certain that they’ve been discovered as the beast settles its abyssal gaze upon the group, and the air in the room grows heavy. Bones within the area begin to rattle, and around the beast a glowing aura of dark power spreads.

The group of explorers have likely seconds before it strikes out in retaliation, and their scholar accompaniment has already sought shelter back within the hall. It’s likely that their guide would die should the lion get close to them, so it is perhaps best they bring the fight forth.

[20:39] Dun couldn't see shit, and though reblinding himself had greatly aided in his concentration and mastery of energy magic, it did nothing for actual purposes of sight. After seeing what he had at the tower of demons, the clown prince could not deny that he was happy to be blind again all things considered.

Some things just weren't worth seeing.

Glancing about the darkness of the circular room as they were at last led to it by the scholar's aid, the warlord would scan the room for a time with his hollow sockets as he did his best to scan it for ambient traces of mana, darkness irrelevant for his lack of sight.

"We're here to hunt boys, this will be a good one."
(Dun)
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 No fear indeed! They blasted their way in and, after some long bits of exploration, find themselves within the arena. Would those that were still alive believe him?.. Those in Osrona, even, of what events he'd gone off on?

Perhaps Nerin, perhaps Robin, but no one else was there to tell the tale to beyond his own child... And his brother on the farm.

Before them lay the beast, however, with its grand aura of dark power spreading throughout the once populated arena. With a soft hum held in his throat the current Commander of the City Watch stares back down at them.

Unphased.

Iberl soon makes its presence in the area; The air growing colder by the moment as the blue star's ambience fuels this energy magi's circuitry. It's nothing but a mere reflex at this rate as the runblade's drawn and pointed towards the beast.

"And hunt we shall. No fear-- No fear until the very end."
(Caelus Lunaris)
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 'No fear.'

Those were words that most energy magi lived by, and one couldn't find a group that exemplifies that more than this particular merry trio of energy magi, and Sajid. Oh, and Nerin might've improved it, buuuut he wasn't really a fan of Dun, so...

Well, he'd need to be left out.

"Well, this seems like the purr-fect opportunity to have some fun." With that, he'd reach back grasping onto the ambassador, and after giving it a good old, click, and clack, the youth would aim it towards the great beast.

"Time to die, idiot."

Such awe inspiring words, from a dickhead.... Oh, and he HIDES his kazoo, just in case...
(Dusk)
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 Okay, wow.

Sajid actually was trying for once in his forty years of life. The way that gravity and the earth was being manipuilated around his destroyed, lithe, dangerous body was admirable. However, that was all to match up and add up to a grand finale of sorts. The sands were his home. And as his home, he felt at ease to do whatever he wanted.

…

However, when he saw that his son went down, anger struct with violence. One hand moved forward to capture the encased atoms of sand and manipulated it. Warping it into whatever he desired as the very thing driving his magic wasn't spite, but emotions. Emotions of love for his precious boy, but hatred for the beast who dared try to ruin it all.

And as such, the sands reacted properly by encasing the feet first, then the ankles. Moving all the way up to the waist then torso, only to finally encapture the hands and neck area of their entire person. They kept the face regular as it was entrapped by the combination of energy and sand. The durable mix making it impossible to break. And as he got closer, he started to laugh...

And that laugh, was horrifying. It was as if he was infested with multiple demons as his palms were the first thing for them to see. Followed by the scarred up smile and finally the violent red hues of his that were only red in the sunlight. It was a dangerous, evil thing for people to see. However, this beast wasn't people; it was just a monster, and all monsters must pay.

"Glass Style: PuNiShEd CoNsTrIcTiOn."

Slowly, the bonds of sand and energy wrapped tighter around the vessel of the animal, only causing nothing more than savage amounts of pain. As the first POP went off in the ribs to signal that it was crushed. Followed by the POPS of bones as blood was starting to come from their mouth. And when it was finally said and when it was said and done, the bones that pushed inside went for the lungs and heart,but not piercing it.

"Tell Helheim I'll be there soon...

I almost feel bad for you."

His hand crushed, and in that very instant, bones collided inside one another. The body was laid limp as it soon took the sands and drew it down to the ground. Dead and done, and the soul wasn't even there anymore.

"Let's keep going..."
(Sajid)
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{NARRATION} The beast, despite its weakened form, is by no means weak. Bones fly around the room, bludgeoning and piercing through the magi- inflicting minor and major injuries alike.

Dusk is handled as if a ragdoll, battered around by the great beast's claws, amplified by the forces of gravity- knocked to the ground viciously. He'll probably have a concussion.

Sajid's side was stabbed through by a spear of bone- thankfully, missing organs, yet it was a painful, scarring wound nonetheless.

Caelus' jaw is dislocated.

Dun was effectively uppercut by a great ridge of stone, launched into the air, his mask cracking- flying upwards until...dropping like a rock, landing awkwardly on his feet. He got a sprained ankle.

Yet its body is no longer able to take the sheer magical effort applied- it hacks, and coughs, its body trembling as it attempts to maintain its control of magic…

Regardless of its success, an opening is given- one which Sajid immediately makes use of, sand exploding up, encasing the weakened king, up, up, until its entire form was covered in a mixture of sandy energy.

While the old fire magi had very clearly made an attempt to torture the animal- it was old, and it had already been dying before the arrived. The pain alone nearly caused its heart to burst from shock, and the moment its ribs cracked, breaking inwards- it did.

Mr Glass just proceeded to make certain of its death.

With the colossal beast dead, their guide returns to the arena- and after making collections of various objects- bones, scraps of cloth, even various materials from the beast itself- they look upon their map.

Little time would have been granted for the group to recuperate as the scholar sets off deeper within, taking a seemingly random off the various paths branching from the arena.

Through yet more stale, rotten tunnels they travel- the density of bodies once more sparse, until slowly- then noticeably- that density takes a sharp spike upwards, the floor of the tunnel they traverse thick with bodies of those former occultists.

A light at the end of the tunnel would appear, the further their approach, the deeper and darker the occult taint in the air- cloying, draining even those with a mastery of such magics. How deep must the depravity have gone to affect them so deeply?

Broaching the threshold of that light would have them exit into a truly massive room- in length, width, and height. Numerous passages line three of the walls, similar to the one they exit from. The ceiling so high that it is replaced only by inky blackness. The floor...a deep crimson, seemingly that of thick blood.

Upon the fourth wall is a truly massive door. Stained of blood, from this distance the ornate portal bears no noticeable method of entry- nor is it possible to examine the numerous emblems and figures that adorn its surface.

[21:22] Truth be told it was a rather harsh fight in the beginning. Despite the malnourished form it had held its ground rather well! Through rushing glances of his blade, vicious beams of energy pressing the beast against the walls of the arena, the Lunaris find himself...

In pain. A substantial amount of pain.

Alongside burned hands he couldn't grip his blade all too well. One vicious force of stone quite literally dislocated the Commander's jaw. A sharp growl escapes the now slack-jawed Commander as Sajid closes the fight.

With the beast put down Caelus would follow along as they ventured forth. Twists and turn bring them further in; A burn hand pressing holding his jaw upward as he continued to hum. So what if it hurt?

Things would be fine in due time; He had his lucky pie on him.

As soon as the Occult hits the air his eyes began to narrow. They were approaching what he assumed to be their next fight... Only to come out at a door. Crunching his nose he'd look towards the group.

The decision was theirs to make. The Lunaris could only follow along-- Talking with a dislocated jaw was, in fact, quite hard after all!
(Caelus Lunaris)
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[21:22] Dun would be reminded by the old, phantom pain that remained in his metal bones as he grimaced that gravity magic would always be his greatest enemy. The beast was strong, worthy of the hunt, and the blackened fists of the master pugilist took repeated and frenzied efforts to work through the hide of such a monster.

It would only grow more difficult, he feared.

With a grunt of pain as he faltered back to allow Mister Glass his artful demonstration, the clown prince would glance down at his sprained ankle with mild disconcertion, shrugging lightly as he continued on with determination towards their goal.

He had not come this far to die now.

As they marched on through the accursed ruins of beasthood, the hunters treaded over corpses and tainted blood alike as they made their way further in towards the true quarry. Though mercenaries by trade, as hunters of the occult they were specialized from their interactions with such denizens of depravity.

And a good, thoughtful hunt it would be.

As they sunk into the depths of the bloodied floor, the blind warlord would pace forth with resolve against the current of thick, steeped cold blood, cracking his knuckles without pause as he made efforts to approach the door.

"If there is a trap, it will need to be triggered. I've no fear of such things."
(Dun)
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 Ah yes.

P a i n.

This was unfortunately something the cat was incredibly familiar with. After all, he had gotten the shit kicked out of him like, thirty fucking times before he was fifteen. Seriously though, six dangers before hitting fifteen. What the fuck even happened there?

Anyways, that probably doesn't even matter. What does matter is the fact he's being HURLED around like a ragdoll. Wave, after wave of pain flowed through the masked man's body, as he brought crashing into the ground.

Over, and over again.

Everything started getting really, really blurry, and the cat simply found himself laying on the ground staring up at the heavens, as he wondered where everything went wrong. Oh, and his dad murdered the shit out of the monster.

Nice.

Maybe he should kill his da-... Nah, he'd never do that. Right?

Right?

Anyways, with the beast dead, it was time to traverse through some rather disgusting tunnels, and like the moron he was, he decided to follow after the blind people. What could possibly go wrong there? Surely they'd be fine.

Strangely enough! They were fine.

Well, besides being blocked off by a door, which was a real YIKES. So, the hooded Felinae simply squinted at it for what seemed like ages, before nodding like he knew exactly what to do. After a few more moments of squinting, the cat's gaze darted around the rest of his party.

"Yeah, I have no clue what the heck to do here."
(Dusk)
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 {NARRATION} They had mere moments after all standing upon that blooded surface afore the world began to shift. Within a sudden blur, the floor beneath them shifted, then surged upwards- surrounding, entrapping them in an enclosure of crimson.

Quietly at first, yet quickly increasing in volume and rage were what appeared as wails of the damned- then, from those walls of opaque sanguine passed a shimmery, translucent substance.

From that substance, an amalgam of pained faces formed, screaming, wailing, groaning, and moaning of suffering. Only the beings ‘head’ appeared as if somewhat stable- wispy eyes glaring about the bloody room.

‘Arms’ extend to the sides, and the liquid still beneath their feet begins to bubble and shake...

It seems they won’t be able to proceed without first banishing this amalgam of souls.

[21:24] Sajid slaps a sand tentacle where the trap might be. No fear.
(Sajid)
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Sajid says, "Ah. Alright."
Sajid asks, "Guess we doin' this again?"

 Dun says, "Aww shit, here we go again."
 Out of the frying pan, and into the fire. That was the saying, right? Those hands of his tightened around his weapon, as the cyan energy that danced around him spiraled up.

"Well."

A click, and a clack from his gun follows, as he readies himself to fight the amalgam of souls, or whatever the Hel this thing was. Honestly he had no clue, all he knew is it probably needed to hecking die.

"Fuck."

Ah yes, once more, awe inspiring commentary.
(Dusk)
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 Sajid says, "Watch yer fuckin' mouth."
 … Ah, an amalgamation now. Well, that was certainly something to tell a tale of to his daughter. Surely they wouldn't cower like their family line-- Her mother had accepted her death without a fear after all.

And the Lunaris line never knew fear.

Whirling the runeblade about in one hand he'd form his typical ethereal copy in the other. A master of mana, but none closer to the his ex-Commander who stood among the lines. Those Mythril orbs remained transfixed on the head of this apparition.

"If the lot of you souls see my wife, tell her I said hi and the kid's doing well. Spirits know it's been damned hard to smoke reed with an impressionable teen in the house."
(Caelus Lunaris)
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 Dun would raise his dukes without fear, a hunter must hunt.
(Dun)
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 {NARRATION} With each action the Amalgam took, the gathered magi would find their lives drained, energy pulled from their bodies.

Caelus and Dun, both in a moment of great awesomeness and stupidity, combine their power to send a massive beam of energy straight into the amalgam.

This great beam does an absurd amount of damage- chipping away at the entity's form.

The souls also seem to eat the energy. Then they eat some more. Then, that beam exhausted, energy is drawn from those elderly energy magi both, straining their stores of power.

Even as it drew more power in, adding to the cohesion of its form- these elite of Esshar were draining it all the faster. With a particularly potent wail, the entity seemed to draw its shoulder back, ‘palms’ spread- and it began to gather power.

Those walls of upraised blood begin to shift, bubble, and writhe- and it’s clear that if it accomplishes whatever it seeks to do, none of the group would survive that display of magic.

Yet, it is as opportunity, as much as it is a threat- while the Amalgam invokes this power, it is left open to final retribution- final retribution which Sajid is in a prime position to take advantage of.

"I... hate occultist. My son, when you see an occultist? Kill them -- even if I succumb to a thing."

Those were warnings, and even though these things were souls, all things were able to die, weren't they? And in that very instance, Sajid injects himself with enough dead juice in a syringe in his system. And then he just drops into a state of dead.

But in that state of dead, he was still breathing, and everyone who was watching can tell that his soul was a deep red. And as a deep red, it was more chaotic than anything else with his alignment being attached to a void, black star. That black star then feeding him the power he needed to send them to it.

Utilizing just the sands that the stars were able to give off, he moved them around each and every single soul that was there. And just as if there was a vacuum of sorts to lead them all over there. And as it turned into glass, it turned to be THAT much more intrusive on how they were going to go.

"Don't you know?

The dead shouldn't linger with MORTALS."

Afterwards, the soul of his goes back into his person as his eyes widen. And seeing that he didn't fall previously, he just took a deep breath of sorts and turned towards them.

"Let's. Go."
(Sajid)
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 Ah yes.

His father had murdered some stuff again... Though well this was an a strange amalgamation of souls, so HOW his dad had actually managed to kill it was... Well it was startling. Which you know what else was startling?

The fact that he should probably kill his da-... Nah.

He'd never do that.

After dusting himself off a bit, the Felinae would glance down at his gun, checking it once, or twice, before nodding to himself content.

"Right, time t'keep movin'."

Well, Sajid had already blown his cover, so the cat SIMPLY took his hood off, revealing his snow white hair, and black eyes. Said mask would promptly be placed into his bag, before a simple shrug followed.

"Leggo."
(Dusk)
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What was that? Energy being taken from an energy magi? How scandalous-- How RUDE. So rude, in fact, that he did join his previous Commander in a tag-team beam attack against these corrupted souls.

…

Wait, why did he feel weaker now? After all that mana he'd pumped out usually Iberl would've fueled him with more gas to add to the fire. Yet, when he continues to fight it just seems to putter at times.

… Oh Stars his circuitry was exhausted after all. Perhaps it was time to just keep himself behind the desk at the Constabulary. Perhaps not. No fear.

With Sajid putting these souls back to rest those ethereal wings faded back into the ether. A relieved sigh escapes the slack-jawed Commander; A burned hand reaching up to press that precious jaw back into place.

He'd nod.
(Caelus Lunaris)
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 Dun would find himself lightly drained, but still blind and fearless, prepared with certainty after Sajid's slaughter to proceed forth through whatever further trials awaited them.
(Dun)
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 Dun says, "Mister Glass, open that door."

 {NARRATION} The Amalgam of Souls is, quite literally, glassed- shredded into particles of soul-dust, which then fly towards that giant gate- moving through it with what sounded as if a pained wail.

Sajid sends a barrage of sand against the door, to no avail- the doors remain steadfast.

Moments to breath, it is perhaps now that the group of magi will have realized that their guide had managed to avoid getting caught in the combat entirely- having lagged behind to examine an inscription upon the walls.

Such would likely be pulled from their mind, as a low grinding sound fills the room, emanating from those colossal gates of bloody-red, each portion of those doors slowly swinging towards them, straining against the floor they rest upon, until clearing to the floor of liquid blood.

They speed with each moment, until they lay wide open, granting the group sans-scholar full, and total admittance to the chamber beyond. Yet attempts to look within are met only with shadowy black, inhibiting all attempts to gaze beyond the threshold.

Maybe Sajid failed at opening the doors because they seem to be swinging out, towards them- and that they are giant. They are, at the least, opened now.

 Dun would laugh at Sajid's ambient Rhoynish silliness, shaking his head lightly as he crossed his right, serpentine scarred arm over his left while awaiting him to finish playing around like a child. The clown prince of Theria might have been blind, but he was also patient.

Seeing the way forth, the pungent scent of blood and corruption in the air, the hunter would merely smiled his missing toothed grin, cracking his neck and back before at last his knuckles before they were hardened black once more.

No fear, they had come for a fight. They would get one.

Pacing forth fearlessly into the darkness, the blind clown warlord would prepare to face whatever lay in such a decrepit, accursed abyss.
(Dun)
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Ha. Sajid failed to open the door.

What a LOSER!

Anyways, with his hands now resting on the back of his head, the cat would simply follow behind the Clown Prince of Crime. Wait, why was everything in there a VOID? OH stars, oh frick.

"..."

A deep breath follows, as the Felinae steels his nerves, and after a brief moment of silence. The cat would move, aiming to pierce through the darkness, and get to what may lay on the other side of it.

"No fear."
(Ioannis)
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… That was a lot of sand, but then again he expected nothing less from Mister Glass. Caelus had, after all, been shot four times in the chest by that very man. Why they let TWO terrorists into Osrona is beyond his own beliefs.

Let alone the very woman who had a hand in murdering his wife. Sarasha should, by all means, be dead in the dirt.

Yet there was no room for those thoughts here. What stood before them was most likely the end of their little venture-- Beyond the black, inky void before them.

"Nah faer."

Caelus murmured through his now slacked jaw before following the others.
(Caelus Lunaris)
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 {NARRATION} Crossing that ominous portal would immediately reveal that the blackness obscuring beyond was magical in effect- as upon stepping forth, the chamber is revealed in its glory.

A high ceiling peaking above them, sloping down- walls coated in layers of viscous, corrupted sludge- tint as if aged blood, yet with a distinct, overbearing smell of the darkest of occultisms. That sludge flows down the walls to the floor, where it collects into engraved channels, draining down towards the center of the chamber- collecting into a pool around what appears as if a pile of desiccated, rotted flesh.

Examining that pit of flesh and blood closer would reveal the barely-concealed bones of seeming dozens of people, the floor seeming made of the red-stained skeletons. Yet to examine further than the surface, the group would have to descend the slope, and approach the aged, dead pile of meat- of which the scholar is already speeding down towards excitedly.

It is unfortunate, then, when they slip upon a slick of blood-sludge, their aged figure flailing as they tumble forwards into a roll- directly into that bone-filled pool surrounding the behemoth of flesh.

Before moments had passed, time granted to even see if the scholar yet lived from such a tumble, body buried in that undoubtedly sickening pond- their form flails, and their voice shrieks out in pain, quickly banished by that blood likely flooding their mouth.

Within the center of the room, the mass of flesh pulses- and along the walls, those slowed floes of ancient, darkened blood begin to hasten. And behind them? Those massive portals suddenly slam shut, sealing them within.


 Narrowed, Mythril orbs stare about as they look around. Honestly he didn't know what he was expecting given the last room. Blood was seeping everywhere-- A mass of flesh and bone set in the middle... Of the room...

Caelus's gaze remains on that sight alone for a time. If there was one thing that they'd-- Oop, there went the scholar into the mass... Drowned by blood alone before the mass pulsed. Darkened blood rose and soon enough?..

Caelus was staring down a titan. A soft 'hm' perks up into his throat. So this was their next text.

With a confident nod towards the other three he'd invoke that usual phrase. No fear, as it was, and as it would be held for the rest of this expedition. Whether he lost more of himself here or not it didn't matter.

The Lunars would be retiring soon enough - One way or another, in a coffin or in his own bed.
(Caelus Lunaris)
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 "..."

Stepping through a portal was a rather interesting experience, one that he'd probably get used to eventually, but as of right now? It was strange, but that really didn't matter.

What did matter was the horrible things that lay in wait for them in this chamber. The cat gripped his gun tighter, as he took another deep breath, all while a steady flow of his own mana continued to spiral around him.

"I ain't like any o' th-" Before the Felinae can even finish, the portals closed, and they were stuck in here with the strange mass of flesh that lurked in the chamber.

"Well fuck."

The gun would slowly turn to aim at the monstrosity.

"No fear."
(Ioannis)
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Sajid says, "Watch yo mouth."
 Dun didn't see the clownish antics of the scholar in action tragically, but a sense of satisfaction and whimsicality as a clown did bring him a degree of ambient joy. The scent of wretched, living copper in the air, the aroma of sacrifice and death, it was exactly what the clown prince had been looking for in truth.

The blood copper possessed of foul, unnatural life. The greatest of the beasts, and their true quarry as huntsmen in the depths of this ruinous lair. A hunter....must hunt, and the warlord had no fear.

Pacing forth with preparation, the clown would raise two finger guns to the great beast, prepared to let loose without giving time for questions of saving the guide or ambient, lore exploratory diplomacy.

"If there are beasts, there are those who hunt them. Have no fear gentlemen, and do not fall to the bad blood."
(Dun)
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[22:18] {NARRATION} The mass of flesh trembles- the pulsing increasing in speed, in rate- the floes of blood joining it, haste increasing. It somewhat resembles the beating of a heart as it assumes a steady rhythm-

Afore it shifts, coming to a rise- shakily pushing itself up, flesh sloughing off from its form as it arises, revealing a truly monstrous figure.

Lengthy arms hang by its sides, thin, spindly- and with hideous elongated fingers, capped by jagged claws. Its head, appearing as the elongated skull of some animal, within which occultic flames pierce out from- dull, flickering, weak, yet nonetheless alert.

Pushing itself to a greater stand, its torso and legs are revealed- the torso narrow, yet directly within its center there is a visible pulsing, visible beating. Its legs are, perhaps, the most ‘normal’ thing about this abomination, if somewhat thick, given the rest of its frame.

Those occultic orbs look over the magi- then it spreads its arms, claws extending, palms facing upwards, and emits an inhuman screech- the blood coating the walls bubbling, rippling, then shooting out towards them.
 {NARRATION} While clearly powerful- such could be easily felt by those demon and magi its magic rained upon...

It was also weakened, after an unknowable amount of time dormant. Unable to fully exert itself, it was left partially at the mercy of those warriors present, whose blows quickly began to leave physical damage- even so far as opening a rent directly across its chest, revealing a massive, rapidly beating heart- a heart made entirely of flesh-like copper.

But it was not helpless.

Caelus is blasted in his torso by a concentrated beam of blood, pierced straight through hsi body- directly through his lung- then out the other side. He'd need immediate medical attention as soon as they returned.

Dusk is comboed into the dirt in a flurry of blows- though, manages to mostly evade true damage. Except when he's knocked to the ground, and a sharpened rib stabs through his chest- and very nearly pierces his heart, the tip pressing against it. Perhaps worse? It breaks off inside of him. He isn't dead, but...the blood flowing from that wound, and how close his heart came to being pierced- it's close to death.

Dun, perhaps the least injured of those injured- simply gets stabbed in the thigh by a pillar of metal.

And as the collected magi reeled from the brutal injuries inflicted upon themselves- the bloody monstrosity feasts upon the drawn blood. Its heart beats faster, the muscles encompassing its figure swelling as it absorbs the power of these elite magi- the occultic orbs within its head sparking to a brighter burning.

The fight isn’t over yet.



Sajid is, quite simply put- a dancing queen. He evades most major blows, and even, in a display

Dun would point to Sajid with a nod.


 {NARRATION} Had they not drastically injured it before it had stolen their essence and power, it is unlikely they would have succeeded at all. The force behind its blows, the finesse with which they were applied increasing dramatically, the blood swirling around the ring increasing its fervor and rage.

Dusk is, again, absolutely brutalized by the beast. His head is slammed brutally into the ground, and...he'd fall unconscious. It's uncertain, even, if he's alive.

Sajid is scraped by the far more energized titan's wild slashes of its claws, down along his chest- though he'd live without much complication.

Caelus is rooted within a tarpit of bloody viscera, then uppercut by a torrent of that same blood- though for several moments, his legs remained stuck. The muscles tore somewhat at the hip and in his back, and unless he gets it treated, it'd be very difficult for him to walk. At least he's a little taller, now.

Dun is collided with by a bludgeon of bones, of which his crack within his chest- ribs piercing many of the clown's organs.

Yet as it maimed Dusk- Sajid manages to delivery a barrage of his magics, weakening it so that an opportunity is granted- an opportunity to tear that blasted heart from the Titan's chest.

One that Caelus Lunaris is in a prime position to take advantage of. Despite, you know, being unable to walk.
[00:24] This was... This was fucking TERRIBLE. Blood, tar, and occult alike just kept on coming out. From his broken jaw to a literal HOLE IN HIS LUNG the Lunaris was left wheezing heavily as they tore this thing to pieces.

One by one they took their turns making their marks on the mass; Dipping in and out to gain their second winds for this fight. It wasn't an easy one, but this was one they had to conquer. Should they not? This thing could crawl out towards Esshar - Well, after killing them of course.

Rooted in a bloody tarpit the Lunaris's wings beat, attempting to pull himself out of the trap. A snarl forms on the slack-jawed Commander as the ethereal blade began flashing rapidly.

No, this ended here.

Sajid had rooted this thing to the ground with tendrils of sand; One final blast exposing the vital organ within: The beating heart. Pointing his blade towards such a target the air grows colder as mana and starlight alike coalesce at its tip.

With one flash from the Mythril orbs he'd fire off a massive beam of mana towards the weak spot-- Obliterating it as the viscera about him was forced back from the blow. Seconds bleed into a near minute before the mass is mere ashes in the wind.

A fair ending for a rough fight... A shame his age would now shown with A FUCKING BUM HIP.
(Caelus Lunaris)
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 "Well, this is tragic."

He looks at Caelus entirely, only blinking at them as he smiled and leaned in further towards them. "I did say that one day, soon, you will meet your wife again. However, that doesn't mean you can't take a quick one, you know?"

A single smile, and as he leaned in to sit next to them, he would put the head of the general in his lap. "You're going to die, Caelus, and it's so sad, isn't it? Tell me, as the light leaves your eyes, what do you see?" He turns his head over to meet with his, and as it does, he smiled. "You see me, the person you despise the most. You know... it's sad that you ended up in such a way."

"In one hand, we've could've been best of friends. In another... we know that wasn't going to happen, right? It's like the stars... you're a full blue..." He sighed, as he soon leans his head over towards them, letting his forehead rest against it. "But... I'm full black; I am destined for hell, you? You have a chance."

A single hand moved down to rest against his little gun, only aiming it towards the very head of Caelus. His eyes closed entirely as he knew where it was going to go. And with that single pull of the trigger, the only thing at came across was a single bit of smoke.

And that smoke, resonates entirely. And it was so sad. So, very sad.

"I know you watched my child in Osrona, I thank you, Caelus. Your words? I know them...

But tell your wife in the stars, that I am sorry."
(Sajid)
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 ** AvaDM has inflicted an injury upon Dun. ("Disarmed", "In the fight against the Titan of Blood, Dun was deemed as a particularly noteworthy threat. Unable to wrest his weapon from his hands, the entity decided to disarm him. Literally. The clown no longer has a left arm.", "Permanent", "Severity: CRIPPLING (-40 VIT)") **
 A bum hip, a shot lung, a dislocated jaw-- What hadn't he lost in the pursuit of justice these days? Colors were taken from his sight, metal prosthetics now in place of what were once steel orbs that gauged the public. Hel, he'd even lost most of his left arm and his hands.

… What would his daughter think of the moment she got home? She had friends, family even among the Lunaris ranch just on the outskirts of Messaris. It had seen better days with the Verona virus, sure, but his mother and brother stood stalwart.

Caelus can only stare up at Sajid; Emotionless even in the face of death. His voice droned out, slow and without desire to continue. "Osrona let you and Sarasha in despite being terrorists... Well known ones at that-- Killers of a Knight." The Lunaris huffed off, those Mythril eyes slowly rolling towards the top of the room.

"The Osrona I fought for died on that sentencing alone."

Right as he hears theshuffle of a gun does his vision finally shift back to Sajid. There's a faint smile on his lips as he spoke before the pull of a trigger.

"This time put eight more shots in me... Despite your kills you've always been a sloppy shot." The Lunaris ended with a weak laugh. Letting his eyes come to a close as the pull of the trigger finally goes he'd come to terms with reality.

He'd be leaving his family here to join those he had in the Stars - The cycle of rebirth to take place once more. Mizuki and Ravan were bound to be waiting, right?

Probably. Hopefully. At least his life ended with a bang.
(Caelus Lunaris)
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 Dun would engage in the hardest fight of his life yet, his energy magic pushed to his limit as the titan of blood ravaged the party of four rugged mercenaries to their core. The warlord of the circus would not hold back after all, not this close and at the pinnacle of the hunt. With temporally motivated swiftness, he'd laden for quaking blows, blasts, and beams against the unnatural beast of blood copper.

An intoxicating hunt indeed.

Yet, in the heat and invigored throes of battle, the clown prince was worn down, and in a blink of sudden, visceral violence, his left arm was torn from him as simple as child's play, a spout of blood spattering from his torn arteries as the now one armed, blind pugilist found himself drained of his very vigor and stamina, fallen to one knee as the fight found its end.

Only to hear the distant clank of Caelus ending the bout, followed curiously by the resounding blasts of Sajid's Ambassador, the killing gun. Yet, Task remained alive, if maimed.

The hunt had been completed, hadn't it?

Then why he could he not sense Caelus, and why was the scent of fresh blood in the air...

The warlord would slowly rise, clasping his spouting, ichorous stub with his right, serpentine scarred arm as he grimaced, trying to regain his senses before doing his best to examine the fallen beast, that he might steal the beating, living heart of blood laden copper itself.

A long, harrowing hunt, and a terrible dream...
(Dun)
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 There was pain, lots, and lots of it. Once more, the cat found himself being brutalized by the strange wall of meat, or... Well, whatever the thing was. Despite his best efforts to keep his distance, and to use his father's gun to rain Hel down on the creature from a distance...

Well, it simply didn't pan out the way he wanted to.

On false move, and he was done for. His ribs were already beyond fucked, and somehow, his heart hadn't been pierced by them, but... Well, that injury only seemed to slow him down, which allowed the creature to get in close, and that was all it took to take the youth down.

One moment he was standing, the next he was smashed into the ground, his head being rapidly slammed into the ground. Thankfully before it could do anymore damage the creature was slain by Caelus. That was the man who had saved him from death.

Oh well, that's not to say Ioannis wasn't incredibly injured as is. The taste of blood that had lingered in my in his mouth faded away. Which at the time felt like a good thing, but if anything it was far from it. His sense of taste.

Gone.

If only that's where things had ended, the last thing, the very last thing the cat would ever see was the sight of his father brutally gunning down the man who had saved his life mere moments ago. For what reason? The cat couldn't fathom it, but right now?

Everything was, and would forever fade to black.

The cat lay there limply, now lacking two sense, but he was filled with a rather... Well, he was angry. Very, very angry with his father. He didn't care how long it would take, but Sajid would die.

By his hands.

Whoops?
(Ioannis)
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{NARRATION} In Caelus final moments, an unseen entity would seem to raise a specific object in Caelus' bag. It was a pie. A fresh, untouched pie. And it'd be hurled toward Dun. He could not dodge it this time. For it was the pie to trump all pies.

 Dun would raise his palm to attempt to deflect the pie, only to realize he didn't have that arm anymore. He was rused. And pied.
(Dun)
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 The corrupted copper heart torn from its chest, the beast shudders.

With a pained screech, high in pitch, and terrible enough to effect even the strongest, it seems to simply...lose cohesion. It falls into a piles of flesh, atop which its skull lay- appearing to have had no bone-structure other than that.

Even torn from its host, the bloody, fleshy, copper heart continues to beat- thrumming with a steady rhythm as it pumps stale air.

Yet despite their wounds, and the loss of their guide, their eyes, and the random city watch commander- the Dun and his compatriots succeeded in their aims when raiding this accursed pyramid.

And, luckily? The scholar’s map had fallen as they fell, and though stained, had survived the combat mostly unscathed. They would be able to follow it back to their exit.