Thom - Earth lodestone

[14:37:26] Zap!

That was a bit close! Thom would have seen the group following Liara head towards the south of the encampment, involing a large number of Cinderfall's magi. The boy was aware of the expedition that was about to go on, yet he had slept in past the point he meant to. He was only barely able to catch up, shoving a bit of bread in his mouth and nomming at it as they moved out.

As he was currently late the youth would stick near the back of the group, making sure not to cause too much attention to follow him as he strived to catch up.
(Thom)
{NARRATION} Upon entering the cave, the group would find themselves feeling a certain amount of...Depravity. It was heavy, and it left a trail. Above, droplets of water fell, small out-crops of rocks depositing moisture that gathered on the cave's ceiling. It was a damp and soggyplace. Not only that, it was dark, an all consuming type of dark. Had it been so dark before? What would the group do, follow the stench of depravity or stumble into the darkness recklessly? Perhaps someone would have some good ideas...Who knew?
[14:50:14] Boy, was it dark in here.

The orange haired youth would be quick to take off his goggles and focus on his eyes. Within moments the glowing golden orbs would shine their light into the cave. Who said mutations couldn't be a good thing? The youth smirked before holding their hand out and creating a ball of flames as well to create an extra amount of light just in case his own eyes were not enough.

"You guys feel it too right? There's something bad in here. Its dark. Where should we check out first? We could head in a random direction- OH OH! Liara! Do that thing where you feel the earth! That'll find some kinda path! Or maybe something with the wind to tell where stuff is?

I dunno, just spit-balling ideas."
(Thom)
[14:50:14] As they entered further into the cave the feeling of depravity got stronger, and the darkness grew darker. Being on occultist meant that the effects of depravity did not affect her as much, but still the power of the dark magic was strong, very strong. Marina sighs, the first thing to do would be to give them more visibility in the darkness. Marina snaps her fingers and six large glowing balls of fire ignite around the group providing them with some more light.


"It's dangerous but we should follow the trail of depravity, if our target is a Koar then the dark magic will lead us right to him" she says.

(Marina Avner)
[14:51:05] Sirus felt somewhat uneased by the lurking Depravity within these caves. This wasn't like when he helped clear out the Necromancer tower with Edward or being around those who had depravity around them. To Sirus this was... different. The darkness felt almost unnatural to him.

"I don't trust this darkness..." He stated to the group. It would be exceedingly dangerous to stumble around in the hostile darkness like a bunch of idiots. They'd be risking their lives. "I could use my fire magic to possibly light the darkness? It'd be better than nothing."
(Sirus Blackmane)
[14:51:05] Illumination was always oft the reasonable need for their efforts it'd seem, if it was in a cave, it was always dark, or some how quite dank, so with that in mind, a sphere of fire become Liara's companion once more, perhaps Yuri would appreciate the lack of frigid cold this time around? Or perhaps he'd just be mootly along for the ride this time around.

The others were expected to act according to conduct, these yokai weren't aok, and needed to be dealt with, because if allowed to roam, the might become a direct threat to Cinderfall.

Her elmwood stave in hand, Liara would remain calmly stalwart, trying to make sense of the cavern they were within. What, if anything, could she now see? Was there any clear reason to go down another pathway? "We should be careful, this is a much more open and expansive cavern than the other place was. The cult's practicing grounds were very much so. . . manmade." She peered about, idly peering about to try to see as far as she could into this cavern, or if there genuinely just was something making the place darker.
(Liara Myr)
[14:51:05] Having arrived in Cinderfall Yuri does his duty as a member of arm and ally to aid them in their quests for lodestones. He follows the group into a cave, looking around curiously yet failing to see anything as it gets darker and darker apparently.

"You know this is kind of weird, the longer you spend in the dark the more your eyes get used to it and you are able to see better not worse. Something is definitely off about this place." He notes in a matter of fact way

Sighing he regrets not learning any magic that has illuminating properties, though Thoms mastery of fire and shining eyes certainly help make things better. Looking at the older boy Yuri smiles innocently.

"It's so damp in here I'm surprised I haven't shifted into my true form." He adds jokingly as he keeps following the group. "Yeah I can feel something off about this place."
(Yuri B'nk)
[14:54:30] Caterpillar crawls.

There's really not much more to say than that. The Insect had been in these strange caves before. Growing lost the first time and wandering aimlessly. Food was short in this place, fegitation tended to dislike dark places. There were some hungry nights the poor Caterpillar experienced. Thankfully, Caterpillar learned and adapted. The superiority of Caterpillar kind was that above Humanity.

For Caterpillars were the most intelligent species on this Earth.

Crawling across the floor in motions that would leave Humans exhausted and their torso's in pain, Caterpillar follows after Liara aimlessly. Lurking behind the ground, it follows at a steady pace. Nothing more to say than that, though. Aside from the odd twitching of its antennas-- Were they real? Caterpillar certainly believed they were.

Its stomach growls slightly. Not enough food around here...
(Caterpillar)
{NARRATION} The darkness would give in, but only slightly. The flames conjured by the group only light the groundinfront of them for a few feet. Where they could now see what was on the ground, the darkness continues to look over them. They would feel as if eyes were watching. The depravity would lead them, if followed, scross a flat, rocky surface towards what feels like nothingness. All around them was darkness, in every single direction. On in their circle of light would it feel somewhat safe. Would they continue to walk towards it?
[15:03:53] Nothingness. That's what awaited them. Or at least that's' what it felt like. Darkness in all directions, the combined light of the group only illuminating a portion of the area in front of them. Something felt wrong…..were they being watched? It sure felt like it. Marina stops dead in her tracks as they followed the trail of depravity. "Does anyone else feel that? We're being watched I think, Liara Thom had the right idea you should use your earth magic to find a path" Marina says.
(Marina Avner)
[15:04:44] Well, it wasn't as dark as before. But even with that being a given it was still dark in here and hard to see far out. There was no telling what might lay in the darkness ahead of them.. It was dangerous however, that was for sure. With this consideration in mind Thom reached around his back, gripping his glaive firmly.

"Careful, got it.. Still, I think we should try to shoot fire balls or soemthing into the darkness from afar. That way we can see a little while off without splitting up. I mean.. To me the other idea sounds like we all serpate and check out various parts of the cave but stay close enough to be in eye sight but..

What if something attacks then?"

The boy then would grin towards Marina, hearing the drakanite's agreement with his plan. "Yeah! We just gotta use wind and earth and we'll be able to tell where some stuff in the cave is! Especailly since.. I feel like something's there."
(Thom)
[15:05:36] Rubbing his chin Yuri looks around thoughtfully, examining every member of the party to see if he can think of something before he finally has an idea. Eyes opening wide a grin creeps its way across the boys face, he turns to Thom.

"Hey Thom? Try throwing a fire ball out in front of us. It was empty space before this darkness crept in. Let's see what happens."

A shiver runs down Yuris spine at the mention of being watched, he quickly glances around. Failing to see anything of course and only becoming more paranoid as a result.

"Yeah Marina, it does feel like we're being watched..."
(Yuri B'nk)
[15:06:27] Ah, the Caterpillar Kingdom.

Stories spoke of the way things were. How Caterpillars were ruled and guided by the most elite of their Clan; The Butterflies. They with their majestic Fey-like wings guided all towards their destinies. It is said that such knowledge of the Rituals that gifted them their evolved form was lost aeons ago. Long before the fall of the clan proper.

It is these stories that inspired the creature.

The darkness returns the Caterpillars mind to the stories of it's youth. From a time when its mother would chew leaves for it and regurgitate the flora into its mouth. Such comforting times they were, a stark contrast to the sense of Impending dread that follows with each movement forward.

At least the ground was flat, though.
(Caterpillar)
[15:07:18] Sirus waved his hand around as a soft flame danced upon it, contributing to the group's miniscule light source. As they walked he could only feel the darkness choking the party further and further. "I'm glad I'm not the only one that has that feeling..." He muttered in responce to Marina and the rest of the party agreeing.

"Aye. If we're being watched then we need to get to a location in here that we can work with. Being ambushed in the darkness will surely get us killed. I agree with the Earth magic idea to find a path."

He narrowed his eyes towards the nearby darkness of the cave. Whatever was lurking inside... it wasn't good.
(Sirus Blackmane)
[15:12:25] A nod came off of her as she'd give a hard clatter of Elmwood's heel. The earth rumbling softly under her foot as she'd let out that long lived pulse, putting a large amount of mana forth to area abound, taking to studying the immediate fourty feet in any direction around.

The blue eyed womans irises were occluded by her eyelids, feeling the air around herself, the ground beneath herself, like there were roots beneath her.

What was it that she found to be nearby? Even still as her eyes were closed, calmly remaining in place, awaiting the feedback from hard minerals near the walls. and the vacancy that implied a tunnel of some sort. They had a few feet to be cautious in their line of sight to see holes after all!
(Liara Myr)
{NARRATION} All around them, she could feel THINGS crawling on the cieling, the walls...The ground. Just out of their line of sight, creatures lurked. They were moving, following the magi as they headed towards the source of darkness. In the distance she could just BARELY feel a kind of...Emptiness. A possible path? The source of the depravity however, it was no longer in one direction. It surrounded them. Glowing eyes, flickering shades of reds and yellows leered from beyond the light of the magi's summoning. Either Thom had some kin he didn't know about, or something very bad was going to happen, very soon. They could run...Or they could fight. Maybe if they remained still long enough, those -things- would go away?
[15:32:54] Waiting, still, calm and firm. "Don't move. . ." She'd warn. "Not until they do." They? Who was they? Although it seemed her earth magic caused quite a stir in the chamber they were in, they woul dstand and fight, because this wasn't a thing they ought to move with tailing them. After all, it was an unknown for the moment.

Elmwood rested pressed upon the cavern floor, the idle click coming and going as she'd feel for the direction, preparing to strike.

They would await for the creature or creatures to make their offensive? Blue eyes peering about to the darkness, calmly looking about. Trying now to take to the visual cue.
(Liara Myr)
[15:36:19] Marina stops dead in her tracks again. They, who were they? The group was being watched after all it would appear, and whatever it was Liara had apparently decided to stand and fight. But should they make the first move or wait for the enemy to reveal themselves so they knew what they were up against? Marina notices how Liara holds her staff, her sword was at her back and it would not be a good idea to draw it in an obvious action. Marina says and wills the six balls of fire she had summoned to use for light to her side, ready to use them to strike in the upcoming fight.
(Marina Avner)
[15:37:10] The Sirenian freezes solid sweating, like a block of melting ice. Very slowly he looks towards the red and yellow dots that can now be seen from afar. Gulping he glances at Liara.

"Th-They?" He says with a hint of fear in his tone.

Carefully he reaches for the rifle on his back, unslings it and gently inserts a runecrafted magazine into it. He proceeds to hug said rifle and goes back to being a statue as he has been ordered to be.

"I don't... like this one bit."

His eyes dark around the room, from one pair of eyes to another. Cold fear filling his body causing the rifle to rattle ever so slightly in his hands. Noticing it he only tightens his grip upon it, managing to return back to his frozen state. Or close to it.
(Yuri B'nk)
[15:38:01] Sirus took Liara's advice to heart as he froze up. They -were- being watched the whole time, huh? He figured considering the feeling of depravity surrounded the group whole. In the meantime, he slowly placed his hand upon the hilt of his greatsword but doesn't make an effort to draw it without the risk of attracting the adversaries to them. For now he waited, watching carefully.

"Any moment now..." He muttered under his breath. As soon as these 'creatures' were going to lunge at the group, he'll unsheathe his greatsword in a single motion and unleash hell upon the depraved.
(Sirus Blackmane)
[15:38:52] It was pitch black in this Cave System.

The Caterpillar wasn't a fan of dark, damp places. Less so when there's a constant sensation of being watched! It's not until Caterpillar begins hearing and feeling things moving about him that he finally/i> realises there were actual things surrounding him! While the Human ordered others of her Kind to stay, the Caterpillar notably begins to freak out.

"MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOTHS! SHKREEEEEEE!"

The creatures from the Insects nightmares. The ancestral enemies to the Caterpillar Clans. Those who would kidnap their kind and drain their bodies of liquids. The most terrifying creatures the innocent Caterpillar could possibly imagine. Flopping about the floor now, the Insect CHARGES ahead at full-speed. Caterpillar knocks into Liara's back, impacting against it and possibly disrupting her balance.

"SHKREEE!"
(Caterpillar)
[15:38:52] Well, this was concerning. But, fortunately standing still wasn't exactly hard as a spirit. Without things like... Muscles, to spasm. Or being effected by little changes. He was able to stand as still as stone...
(Lucius Volusenna)
{NARRATION} There things, they were fast, Liara would be able to tell that much, they shuffled around and seemed to remain outside of the light source. But something changed, there was an obvious shift. While most of the team was ready, a few of them were not. Marina was the first… A horrific screech sounded, a shadow lurched forwards and something of a hellish Arachne shot forwards. This spider-like nightmare slammed into Marina's chest, knocking her backwards and into the darkness. From that point, she stood no chance. A strong, string-like substand was wrapped around her rapidly and the girl was passed along through what felt like hundreds of legs. Whatever those -things- had wrapped her in? It sucked away her mana, it made her feel weak. Marina had been separated from the group. The boy who thought himself a bug? He was next, mere seconds after Marina's disappearance, another ungodly creature lurched forwards to knock the child back into the shadows. He too would be swallowed up in their netting, dragging off and separated from the large group of magi. Thom and Lucius were next, but it was anticipated it. Few others were so lucky, Sirus received a bite while fighting off one of the horrible spider-like monsters. It numbed his body, made him feel weak and nauseous. He would have a hard time concentrating. (Temp -10 mdam nerf for the rest of the event due to poison) The rest received minor scratches and now have to fight off these awful creatures while at loss for two of their members. (You may rp )
[16:04:28] Well, that didn't go well at all!

'Don't move'. Those were the words that Liara spoke, but unfortunately they weren't listened to. The orange haired youth would have been a good boy, blinking a few times when suddenly there was a loud screech from one of their own. That was the moment that Thom would disobey Liara's moment, grabbing at his glaive.

"They're coming Liara! Sorry I have to move!"

And it would be just as he said this that Thom did so, watching as one of the bugs lurched towards him, but quickly using the red occultic lighting to step aside, moving more towards the interior of the group. His own eletrical power began to spring to life and the orange haired boy focused, closing his eyes for a few seconds.

It might have taken a little bit, during which time he hid towards the middle but afterwords a small eletric humanoid creature could be seen, looking connected a bit to the orange haired youth as he readied his weapon.

"Let's take care of this quick!"
(Thom)
[16:05:20] What the fuck? They were getting ready to fight and then somehow her senses failed her. Marina feels something slam into her chest faster than she can react or avoid. Without even seeing anything the young Drakanite feels the webbing wrap around her. Darkness envelopes her vison even more than it already had before. Something else though…..her mana. She could feel it draining from her body by the second, she felt weaker and weaker as the moments ticked by ever slow. What was going on with the others? Were they ok? Funny how she was worried more about her guild members than herself when she was the one who might die from mana deprivation at any moment. She just hoped they were ok, ugh this was more embarrassing than anything. Marina had never had the misfortune of being blindsided before. Can't win them all she supposed.
(Marina Avner)
[16:07:02] Eyes opening wide Yuri turns towards Marina just as she is being dragged off, fumbling he readies his rifle and aims it slightly below her.

"MARINA!" Trigger pulled he fires off a bolt of ice in the general direction underneath her, at this point however she is probably long gone and so is whatever dragged her off.

"Kid!"

He turns towards Catarpillar, his rifle not far behind as he finally takes aim and shoots. No doubt missing once more, but the effort was made. Just as he wanted to turn and shoot at whatever hit Sirius it was finally his turn to be attacked.

Luckily his rifle was ready and so was he. Seeing movement out of the corner of his eyes Yuri quickly smashes a bottle of water hanging off of his waist, spilling it all onto his legs and freezing himself to the floor. Just as the spider like creature hit him in the chest too. However instead of flying off into the darkness the ice cracked and broke, acting as a pivot and sending him crashing into the ground. Falling with a loud thud.

"GAH!" He yells out in pain as his back hits the ground, rolling over to his side as he takes on a fetal position due to the pain.

"My bloody back!" Flinching he gets up off the ground, his back turned to Thom as he slowly backs into the older kid.

"This isn't good, not at all. Can't be good. We need to do something and NOW!"
(Yuri B'nk)
[16:07:53] Lucius knew it was coming, as soon as the... whatever the person thought he was, decided to do the charge. As soon as the spider leaped out at him, it would meet his shield. A quick bash, sending it scurrying away and towards it's next victim. Whoever it happened to be.

Now, it seemed there was danger to be had. Lucius would make a mental note to squash their local bug when they got back to camp... But that would have to wait. Right now, they had to defend themselves however they could. People were going to get injured, after all. They couldn't simply sit around and wait for these creatures to pick off their next victim.
(Lucius Volusenna)
[16:08:44] Butterflies Guide Me!

Caterpillars fears were warrented. Though these weren't moths, they were of another branch of the tree of Horrors. With the Caterpillars knocked backwards from running against Liara's back, he was in an easy position to be knocked away. A powerful impact against the Caterpillar's costume sends him flying out into the darkness, crashing against living things that aim to carry him away.,

"SHRKEEEEE! NO NO SHKREEE!"

Something pulls on the Insect. He wasn't much of a mage, if at all. But the draining of his most basic energy leaves him fatigued, unable to truly struggle against the presence around him. Like paralysed prey in the spider's web, Caterpillar is dragged off alongside Marina to somewhere unknown. The darkness and unseen presences around them to be their only companions in this world devoid of the Butterflies Light.

(Caterpillar)
[16:10:27] As soon as he saw Marina tackled out of the source of the group's light, his eyes widened. They were being attacked! He made no hesitation to draw his greatsword out and start hacking at the arachnid-esque creatures of the depraved darkness.

His swings were making a good effort to keep the dark beasts at bay but as a greatsword user, he could only swing so fast without resorting to his wind magic. In the realization of this error... he felt a sharp jab to his quadriceps, two as a matter of fact.

An arachnid managed to get a clean bite on an unarmored portion of his leg!

"Gah! B-Bastard...!" He growled out through his teeth as he brought his greatsword down to end the spider that bit him. Kicking the corpse of it aside, his vision started to blur a bit.

"N...Ngh..." A lowly gutteral feeling brewed in his stomach and his body began to numb, especially where he was bit. "V...Venom...?" He groaned out. He had to fight through his condition, now wasn't the time to give in to his infliction. If worse comes to worse, he'll shift into his fire-like state and try to brute force his way through the venom.
(Sirus Blackmane)
[16:15:34] The worst of it was over, but they were two thinner for now, she had to peer around. "Was that the last of them? They've gone quiet. We'll have to find Marina and the boy, one way or another." With that her staff would clatter against the stoney cavern, Liara had not expected the Arachne that attacked- or even any for that matter.

The woman remained attentive now. "SIrus, you alright?" It was an inquious remark towards the man, as she'd approach is side, if there was time to focus on it, she'd be able to siphon out his affliction, but for now? It was a thing that had to be left alone, being she had no means to tend to the ailed on the fly.

Her staff remained, its heel sitting near her own heel. Watching about and prepared for if the arachne tried to strike again at them. Waters flitting up about and dancing around her form.
(Liara Myr)
[16:20:41] Sirus was wobbling a bit as the affliction was taking root in the blood ciruclating through his veins. But Sirus was a trooper. He'll manage... hopefully. "D-don't worry 'bout me Liara... We have higher priorities at hand... Marina and that... that kid." He was using his greatsword to keep himself from falling akin to a crutch but the look on his nauseous face had that of determination.

He looked over to Liara by his side and flashed her a quick thumbs up, showing off a cheeky grin given the circumstances. "Right as r-rain... Worse comes to worse I'll increase my physical capabilities by imbuing myself with fire magic. For now I'm f-fine."
(Sirus Blackmane)
{NARRATION} These things were not done, the sound of skittering steps grows closer; they were coming again! (Ready check)
{NARRATION} The fight was harsh, it would leave the group slowed and in a fair bit of pain. Those awful spiderling horrors packed a punch! Thom would get the worst of it, chewed up and poisoned himself, Thom would join Sirus in the fun of numbing and sickening poison. (temp nerf of -10 vit) If either of themgot bit again, it might just damage them beyond healing... With two members kidnapped to who knows WHERE, the group would be left in a cave littered with big spider corpses. With the death of the horrors though, light returned and the fire around them allowed them to see an open, abandoned mine shaft ahead. Laying conviently just outside the mouth of the quarry, one of the bug boy's shoes lays.
{NARRATION} (it's Mdam, sorry...)
[16:52:16] Yikes again!

The battle was painful to say the least. These spiders really weren't playing around. Their teeth bit deeply into Thom and given that his clothes didn't work so much for protecting him the youth would have let out large grunts of pain. Luckily they would only poison him (roll of 4), but it was still quite painful. The boy would have drawn on the abilities of the eletrical creature on his back..

He could tell the battle wasn't going to end well, so rather then attempt any sort of defense he went entirely on the offensive. Bug after bug after bug got slammed downwards to the ground by lighting, but eventually they bit the boy to the point he was bloodied and fell to the ground.

Luckily however, Thom would pull himself up, still feeling woozy from the venom flowing through his system. "I'm ok.." He called out, wondering if anyone had overly worried before looking to Liara. "We should see how the other guys are.. I don't.. Know if they're better off then us."
(Thom)
[16:53:07] Panting heavily Yuri carefully examines himself, making sure he didn't suffer any heavy injuries without his notice. To his luck he managed to get away relatively unscathed, or at least better than Thom.

It doesn't take too long for sharkskin to notice how Thom was bit by one of these horrors. With a rather worried expression on his face he dashes towards Thom, examining the wound.

"Thom! Y-You aren't alright! You got hurt!"

Gesturing towards the wound he floats over a bubble of water over it, healing the wound ever so slightly enough to at least make it not painful. However not enough to remove the negative effect it is having on poor Thom.

"We should go find the others, looks like we have to follow a trail of breadcrums, or shoes in this case."
(Yuri B'nk)
[16:53:58] Well, that was certainly something, more than her fair share of spider people had come after her, and it was markedly noted that Thom had fallen down. "THOM! G-GET OFF OF HIM!" She yelped, as a spurning bolt of lightning danced through her hurricane, and waylayed to what was an inveritable herd leader. For the likes that piled upon the teenage boy.

The bolt was lethal for what it struck, but that unfortunately unleashed a bit of a powder keg, a hornets nest, on the rest of them, sure Thom had already been bitten, but the might have tried to eat him, if not for the strike of lightning.

The battle was an onslaught, of flung magic against fraying maws trying th chew and nip past the lightly armored bodies of the predominance of those gatherred, even a few foolish insects come try to make their mark upon Lucius.

As the fight raged on, her eye lids shifted, growing heavier, she'd been gnawwed upon a slight, but nothing that would have displaced venom from the fangs. A pang of pain from the rust was flaring in her mind, how did these creatures seem to not bare much of the rust? was it living underground that protected them? Or perhaps was it that they allied with Dumuzid themselves? Either way that it might fall, Liara made a slightly laborred effort over to Thom's side. "Let's keep moving hmm? I can see a shoe over there, looks like what that. . . wierd child, was wearing."
(Liara Myr)
[16:54:49] Lucius' fire would kill, a few of them at least. He wasn't sure how many exactly... But, it was certainly enough to assist. At least slightly. However, it wouldn't be Enough. Thom, would be injured. Another Casualty on what was simply the beginning of the excursion...

This, could not happen again.
(Lucius Volusenna)
[16:56:32] Sirus' breathing was heavy as he was swinging his greatsword down upon the arachnid abominations! He was still efficient as a warrior but the spider poison flowing alongside the blood of his veins were slowing him down. The blurred vision wasn't helping top. "Gah! I'm not making as much progress with these bastards... Time to kick it up a notch."

He close his eyes as a firey aura formed around the young warrior. The hair on his head changed into that of an orange sunset and with his eyes repoened, the color of his irises were no longer their usual tealish-blue. They were firey-orange. Sirus was drawing out his fire potential to imbue himself in order to hopefully take on the venom inside himself. "Gah... I don't know how helpful this form of mine will be witht he poison but I should be better focused... hopefully."

He looked over to see Thom taking a beating from the spiders. "THOM!" He called out, growling due to his quick-to-temper personality when imbued by fire. "I'm going to kill those damned 8-legged freaks, every last one of them...Let's keep moving."
(Sirus Blackmane)
{NARRATION} The tunnel is dark, carved with pickaxes and tools made by man. Leading down, deeper into the ground, they would see veins of metal and the like, long since mined and left only with insignificant bits. As they travel down the tunnel, they find a smaller, more narrow path leading left. The smell of rot comes from that direction though...Would the group explore it, or keep heading down?
[17:11:02] As the group descended down the cavernous network further the smell of rot graced Sirus' nose. The now orange-haired man stopped in his tracks as a frown formed on his face. "Wait." He said to the group, looking over towards the direction where the strong odor was coming from.

"Do you lot smell that too...? That sickening stench? Seems like it's coming from that narrowed path besides us."
(Sirus Blackmane)
[17:11:53] This poison was annoying. Thom would have followed after the group, smiling and thanking Yuri and Liara for attempting to help him after the painful fall during the fight, as well as apologizing to Sirus. "Sorry to make you all worry, and thanks for helping.. IT kinda hurts still but I'll see about it later." Thom said with a nod of his head, following the group down the paths. At this point the youth would have stowed their glaive.

The eletrical being whipped around him and the boy would remain attentive. His hand moved now for a bow, deciding to hit things from afar until he felt at least a little better. For now thought there appeared to be a stange path forwards, one smelling of horrid rot and death.

"Do you think we should go that way Sirus? Might lead to trouble. Might lead to our friends too though.."
(Thom)
[17:12:44] As he walks into the mineshaft he kicks the shoe in, following the rest of the group and looking around nearvously not really knowing if spiders would jump out at them again.

Finally they arrived at an intersection, one of which smells less than pleasant. In fact the smell made Yuris stomach churn almost forcing the poor kid to vomit.

"It smells... horrible in there..." He pinches his nose and looks to Liara. "We have to go there. It smells like that's where they feed, if they took Marina and the kid somewhere it would be to their feeding grounds."


(Yuri B'nk)
[17:13:36] The peering from side to side was something Liara ponderred on. "Well, form here, other than the rot being that'a'way, we don't have much of a sense of direction. . . what do you guys think?" Liara peered over towards them, knowing full well that her sense of direction would be key.

Part of her hoped that Marina and the kid were okay, even while the other didn't want to see that the worst might have happenned.

The suggestion was onto Sirus, Yuri, and Lucius however it'd seem as Thom also defaulted. Peering idly back and forth between the three that hadn't yet, she'd nod. Hopeful to have an answer sooner than later. And Yuri had one!

"Alright, we go to the stink then. We can come back later barring this part of the caves collapsing."
(Liara Myr)
{NARRATION} Down the left side, the stench of rot only grows stronger. As the group continues to travel? They come across...Oh gods. There was nothing but rotting human corpses EVERYWHERE. It was as if this were some kind of...Dumping pit. Why wern't they eaten...? But, while this was all so gross? These bodies had valuable on them... (if you search a body, do a roll)
[17:33:13] Sirus' frown only grew as the stench grew stronger. Just what was causing that horrible smell? To his surprise it was a pit of rotting human corpses. "Gods..." He hasn't seen anything like this, no. Only in the history books he's read back in Lionhold Academy about some depravity-induced plagues becoming so bad that mass graves were utilized.

Gritting his teeth at the thought that Marina and the caterpillar kid suffering the same fate, he looked over at the rest of the group. "We need to find the ones separated from us unless they'll join the pile!" One thing was certainly bothering him however, although the bodies were long deceased one would think these spider-like creatures would eat their kill...

Curious, Sirus got close to a body in order to investigate. "Just why wern't they eaten..." He muttered.
(Sirus Blackmane)
[17:34:04] Conjuring up a large ball of water Yuri floats it over his face, enclosing his entire head within it. Most people would drown however being a Sirenian the only effect is that he doesn't have to bare the horrible stench.

Looking around the bit Yuri turns to Thom, pulling on the older boys sleeves.

"We should cremate these bodies once we are done. We can't leave them like this. Its... they deserve some kind of burial."

Letting out a bubbly sigh within his watery prison Yuri walks over to a body, turns it over onto its back and starts searching it for anything that may proove useful or hopefully not deadly.

Lets hope a spider isn't going to jump out and attack him from the shadows or from under the bodies.

Now that would suck.

"That's a good question Sirus. They are after something else entirely."
(Yuri B'nk)
{NARRATION} 2- A leather purse filled with 500 gold crowns 4- A sharp of Tempestine
[17:46:52] Sirus Blackmane: <*Sirus hummed*> 500 crowns? Not bad.
[17:48:35] Thom would nod to Yuri's words. "Yeah we should see about getting these bodies taken care of and stuff." The orange haired youth admitted. It appeared that Sirus and Yuri had already started taking care of the bodies, searching through them and the boy decided to do the same.

Slowly Thom reached through various pockets, pulling out purses and reciving 500 gold crowns! Awesome! The boy always could use some more money after all. The cackling of eletrical power around him, mostly from his summoning, however didn't allow him to fully enjoy the crowns, and he instead recalled the friends that were still missing.

"I think we should keep moving guys!" Thom called out, slippings crowns into his pockets. "Gotta find Maria. And that other one.. W-what was their name?"
(Thom)
[17:49:26] Yuri manages to find a leather purse, opening it up he finds it filled with coins! Looking a saddened by this Yuri awkwardly closes it and puts it back where he found it.

"I-I'm not taking money from the dead... that's a bit much."

Shaking slightly he detaches a small blob of water from his watery helmet and washes his hands with it as he looks to Sirus with a disappointed expression on his face, then to Thom.

"Right... We should hurry up and find the others."

Turning around he starts to walk back the way they came, all while making sure not to be separated from the group.
(Yuri B'nk)
[17:53:42] Sirus pocketed the small pouch of crowns in his satchel. Of course there was a small guilty conscious of taking things from the dead but of course Cinderfall needed anything it can get. "...For Cinderfall, your deaths won't be in vain." He said to the corpses, mostly to put himself in peace of mind. The feeling went away shortly after Thom spoke up.

"We'll come back to burn the bodies later. We need to find Marina and that... kid." His hands glowed orange for a brief moment to burn away any bacteria or other microscopic bads on his hand to prevent sickness later.

"I don't remember the kid's name but he's not going to be remembered period of we don't act fast." He looked towards the passageway from where they came and proceeded to squeeze his way back. They needed to move with haste.

(Sirus Blackmane)
{NARRATION} Onceback on the main path, they might hear some child struggling. A particular...Bug? No, it was a boy. Theymight hear the woman too! Itseems theymight just have found their friend-- Oh...Wait. Something blocked their pathup ahead. Beyond a giant spider web, a path leading to the right would be the source of their screams. But...Something about the web was odd. AND IT ISN'T ALIVE SO DON'T TRY TO SEDUCE IT!!!

Note: Liara rolled a six on trying to see what was different about the web.

{NARRATION} It's covered in poison. Touch that stuff? Your flesh will melt.
[18:13:20] Sirus' head perked up when he heard what sounded like struggling coming from the right path. "Is that... That must be them!" He was very close to bolting off to see if the source of these struggle-like screams were indeed their missing party members but something about the web in front of them caught his attention.

He hummed softly as he leaned in to the web to take a closer examination. "Hmm... this stuff looks familiar. I remember Ludi mentioning something about how some spiders' webs can... Oh shit." He backed away as soon as the realization hit. "NOBODY TOUCH THAT WEB!" He called out to the rest of the group, pointing at the venomous web.

"Touch it and your flesh will be seared with an acid like substance!!"
(Sirus Blackmane)
[18:13:20] Screaming? From past this web?

Thom perhaps knew something was weird about the web but the boy didn't exactly care. Once more it was simply an obstacle in his way, much like how the door had been. The lucky part? These webs didn't have the runes that the door had. Which meant they were safe to burn.

Taking a few steps back from the web, Thom would take out his bow and arrow. The youth grinned, creating an arrow from lighting and from flame, some sort of eletric mixed seer move, like a spell that can only be used in cutscenes. The boy began to pull it back, aiming the blow straight for the web from around fifty feet away for maximum coolness.

"Everyone out of the way, FIRE IN THE HOLE!!"

There was still time to stop Thom if someone thought that launching a giant firey arrow was not the smartest idea.
(Thom)
[18:19:18] A nod came from Liara as Sirus gave direction. To take care and not touch it, highly corrosive stuff, but it still didn't change that it might be useful- however a fervent Thom loosed the fiery arrow, or was about to. "HOLD ON!" LIara called out, to get him to stop, as she'd point at the web.

"We don't know if that's toxic when burnt as well!" SHe'd yelp in warning, as her earthen magics were once more employed, from the ground up into the form of a small jar? but th elid? well, masterful displays of earthen manipulation let Liara show her prominant finesse with such a crude element.

the soft thuddings of lengths of the Arachne silk as it would come to rest in a heaping mound within the stone Urn, however if Thom didn't stop? Perhaps it would be bad for all of them! Especially with Liara's own efforts condensing the web into a more thickenned fuel.

The stone sealed itself against itself, and only the smallest of seams could be seen, it was a lid! For certain, the anchoring points on the wall priorly were now but a lid on the cylinder of earthmatter that concealed it and protected the courier that took it on.
(Liara Myr)
[18:27:50] Sirus also made an effort to try and stop Thom before he could unleash an inferno upon the web. If that spell were to go through, who knows how much acid could be knocked around? It could even hit the party! "Thom wait!" He yelled out, running to get between him and the web. Since Sirus could wield fire himself, he could possibly take a hefty hit from Thom's blast if casted.

In the meantime, he looked over his shoulder to see Liara do her thing involving the web and the earthen jar. He let out a heavy sigh of relief as that could've ended badly!
(Sirus Blackmane)
{NARRATION} WELL! It seems their littlegroup was able to take down the poisoned web wthout damaging too muchproperty. Unfortunatly, when the web was put in a jar? It became a kind of liquid, a sort of cream. Even though the urn is magic, that liquid begins to eat the bottom of the urn, slowly melting through it. Gross. Better toss that aside! Not that they could finally get through safely? It seems something was JUSTaround the corner too. No doubt someone would run into someone! Who was this mysterious figure though? Why, it was Marina! It seems she had managed to escape with the boy! Upon seeing the group again,she blurts out a little bit of a secret. "I'm secretly in love with the door knob", she says.
[18:41:29] Yuri just watches as they put the web into a jar only for it to melt through. Shaking his head he kind of expected acid web to melt through just about anything, what would anyone need web with acid on it for anyways?

Letting out a heavy sigh he looks down the passage they opened up and spots Marina. The smile on his face at the sight of her is absolutely priceless as he runs over to her, almost hugging her as he stops.

"I'm glad to see you're alright enough to be confessing your love!" He chuckles.

"What happened anyways?"
(Yuri B'nk)
[18:41:29] Well, shoot, looks like once more Thom didn't get to shoot things with fire. Honestly, the destructive magic was one of the things that he felt he was good at. Still, he would keep his bow drawn and nod to Sirus, and Liara. "Alright, I won't shoot. When something jumps out at us though I'm going to be ready." A nod of his orange hair.

And suddenly low and behold there was something that would be just around the corner! Thom instantly began to knock an arrow, but before he was able to even fully draw back the boy saw who it was and relaxed. A slight exhale escaped Thom's mouth as he raised his hand.

"Hey Marin-" He started before she blurted out her secret. The boy blinked a few times before once again getting his bow ready. "IS this some kind of mind control? Is that what the depravity is from? I never heard Marina be so open about the doorknob before.."

The words were mostly aimed at Liara, the boy thinking she might know more about such magic then he.
(Thom)
[18:42:20] A grimmace as she pushes the urn back into the ground, coaxing resiliant earthmatter around, that of granite. However, she'd look at Marina, with a queer glimpse her way as she admits that. "Are... you alright Marina? You seem to have hit your head, or something?" Concern was kindly abound, as she had called out her deep dark secret.

That twisted doorknob that was quite so lewd in his wordsings, even if he just wanted to knock knock with Marina. It was an awkward thing, strange even, for LIara to acknowledge that the red head even said that.

It was wierd. The matter stood however. "I think we're getting close, but we should be careful! Danger has been proving to loom in just about every corner here." Elmwood rested to her side at this point, as she'd sigh in relief, it'd seem that the lad had actually merely managed to run himself out of the cavern instead of into deep troubles.

Simply looking about, everyone was feeling it, and fairly so, She, Yuri, and Lucius were probably the best off. "At anyrate, let's keep going, we've come too far to stall out, eh?" A wave of her hand in the direction to what they hadn't been to yet was made.
(Liara Myr)
[18:44:54] The others! They were there. The urge! Oh god the urge. "I'm secretly in love with the door knob", she says. What? Where did that come from? The ring! Oh god the ring. She had the urge to say some pretty weird stuff now, personal stuff….stuff that wasn't even necessarily true. It had started with the ring….why did she just pick stuff up out of nowhere without testing it first? Ugh the tiredness must have gotten to her more than she thought. Marina tries to slip the ring off but to no avail. Sigh. The young Drakanite looks up towards the sky. "Why me Ryujin?" she demands of the heavens.


Anyway, upon reuniting with the others they would see she was carrying the bug guy. Marina nods her head at the others. "Hope everyone is ok" she says simply moving passed the random bit of knowledge she'd just spouted ignoring the others jokes but giving a nods to Liara to let her know she was better than she felt.


(Marina Avner)
[18:47:28] Sirus couldn't help but smile at seeing Marina and the boy safe and sound. "Oh thank Kraus I thought you two suffered a gri- E-Eh? What was that?" He tilted his head in response to Marina's secret. A doorknob...? What was that about? How does one even develop feelings for a doorknob let along do things wi- On second thought, Sirus should get these thoughts out of his head before they manifested too much.

"Anyways... I'm glad to see that you're alright. We were worried sick about you!" Sighing in relief, he hoisted his greatsword upon his shoulder with a confident grin on his face. It was time to continue on their adventure.

"Now that we're no longer pressed for time, we should continue on to find this Yokai and the Lodestone. My offer on drinks being on me still stands of course!" His cocky demeanor when imbued with fire shortly returned to him after his worries were cleared. "Let's not waste any daylight now, we've got a Yokai to kill!"
(Sirus Blackmane)
{NARRATION} Now that the whole group was back together, maybe they could focus more on finding the source of the depravity. It HAD to be a kaor after all, right? Nothing had control over so many small and depraved creatures as this one did! OF course...The question begged to be asked. What sort of kaor was this? Further down the tunnel, nothing but darkness lay. Darkness and gloom...They had better step carefully, less somethin is sleeping just a few feet away.
[18:57:42] "Hm.. So the lodestone nearby you guys think?" Thom's glowing gaze glanced towards Liara, Lucius, Yuri, Sirus, and Marina."I mean we fought a bunch of stuff and there was this silk stuff guarding this way. That means we must be on the right track. So.. I bet the monster must have been able to make all that silk too."

The boy put a hand on his chin, thinking for a few moments before looking around to each member of the group. "Should I turn up the light again? I mean, I could but if you guys can think of a better way, like for that web thing then that'd be awesome! Oh! Or maybe Liara could do that earth sensing thing again! That worked out last time..

Well.. Except when someone screamed. Lets not scream again.."
(Thom)
[19:01:58] "Well the giant flesh-eating acid web must've been back there for a reason. Be it where they kill their prey or guarding -something- of value." Thom's question pondered in Sirus' head. Was the Lodestone indeed nearby? He hoped so.

"I could always light the way with my fire magic. I'm practically on-fire already!" He boasted, pointing to the aura surrounding him, his orange eyes, and his orange hair. "I'm practically a walking torch already."

He snickered softly as he continued to hoist his greatsword upon his shoulder as the group continued onward. "Earth sensing would be beneficial again though, best to not walk blindly into a group of Yokai or fall into a pitfall."
(Sirus Blackmane)
[19:08:48] There was a simple nod from Liara as she'd step, her fore foot planting and the click of Elmwood's heel The echo of the staff was quiet, but for one who can feel the land underfoot, like Liara could, it gave an idea again for the next fourty feet, what was ahead of them? How big was whatever they were coming up upon?

The blunette remaiend firmly planted, focussed on the sensations that would be felt in return. Hands on her hip as she'd look calmly down way towards that darkness before them.

"Be careful, It'll take a moment to see what's coming." Afterall, vibrations weren't instant.
(Liara Myr)
{NARRATION} Liara's sensing magic really was very good, she was able to feeljust what was beyond that darkness. Hanging fromthe cieling,creatures were sleeping soundly. If not disturbed? Theywould not wake up and attack! But then...Was anyone quiet enough to pass them? Who knew what they were. But they were swimming in depravity... (If you want to sneak past, do a roll. If you just want to fight them? Start throwing magic and insulting their mothers.)
{NARRATION} While everyone was trying so hard to be quiet, it seems the ring's effects on the poor girl would do more than just cause a scene. Itmight just get her killed in the wrong situation! Filled with an unstopable urge to shout, the pretty red haired woman yelled at the top of her lungs; "I SOMETIMES LIKE WALKING AROUND MY HOUSE NAKED, BECAUSE IT MAKES ME FEEL FREE LIKE A REAL DRAGON!!!"
{NARRATION} Oh boy...That woke them up. The creatures hanging from the cieling open their eyes and stare down at the woman. You can try and flee, or stay and fight.
[19:25:52] Sirus' body froze up as Marina suddely yelled out at the top of her lungs right under a large gathering of what could possibly be MORE arachnid yokai! Even then, the young man's face was bright red just from the imagination of a naked Marina. "E-Eh..." He quickly shook his head to get the lewd thoughts manifesting it. Now wasn't the time for that, they've woken something dangerous!

He held his greatsword out in a defensive position while yelling over to the group. "Make the call guys! Do we stand or fight?! We need an answer NOW!"
(Sirus Blackmane)
[19:25:52] Marina Avner: <*Buries her head into her hands*>
[19:26:43] Just as Yuri was about to try and be all super stealthy Marina yells out the most obscene thing that the poor Sirenian boy has ever heard. His eyes open wide, mouth drops open, cheeks and ears turn a bright red despite his natural blue colour.

He can feel his ears burning.

"W-w-we d-didn't need t-to KNOW!" He blurts out in a panic as he almost falls over from her confession.

"Pretty g-girls sh-should keep s-such secrets to themselves!"\

In fact he is so embarassed by what he heard that he completely forgot about the creatures above though it doesn't take long for him to notice them. If only because he heard the disturbing sounds they make and looked up to see their eyes staring straight at him.

Flinching he jumps back, drawing his rifle and loading in a fresh magazine filled with mana, taking aim at the creatures above.

Why is it always spiders?
(Yuri B'nk)
[19:30:08] With A deep breath and a sigh. "Was my stealth not enough, Marina? We should really tape your mouth shut or something, if you're going to blather about things like that." Her arms were crossed as she'd shake her head, Elmwood clatterred as the blunette peered up to the ceilling.

"We've only got one real option here, don't we." Idly roused her staff to act with fervor to take down the threat at hand, after all, they had to be getting close to the Kaor lord, and if they had to keep fighting it'd keep their focus fresher right?

Her weapon angled forward, heatedly, she was one of the only unaffected by something that was still here, after all.
(Liara Myr)
[19:31:50] Well, it appeared that they would have been attempting past the monster in the cave. Thom didn't exactly know where it was but.. Liara had started moving quietly, and as a result Thom would have followed suit for a few seconds. Course, after those few seconds would be when there was a sudden loud voice behind him, saying that they liked to walk around their house naked.

The boy's bronze cheeks lit up in a bit of blush, but the boy would stay quiet. Rather then doing the teenager thing he managed to control himself for once, deciding not to say things that a typical teen would at this situation.

"So we're fighting then?" Thom asked, the redness in his cheeks drawing away slightly as he grabbed his bow, already preparing magic. "I mean after that relevation I thought I might need a moment, but I'm good! I'll save questions for later!"
(Thom)
{NARRATION} The creatures were awful, but the group could manage just about anything in their way. Even when split up...Beyond the dark tunnel, alarge opening gave way to what looked to be an enormous....Turtle shell? It was covered with webs and dust, spikes jutting from its back; but it did not move. The whole hollowed area was just barely keptfromcaving in but stone and wood pillars withing the area. It would have been impossible for the shell to get down here...Unlessit were somekind of fossil? Then again, an enormous amount of energy came fromthis shell, only swelling more by the moment. Depravity leaked from every corner of every crevis within this hollow chamber. Shhadows danced across the floorsand ceilings, screechers and chirps echoed through the empty spaces, and a deep and rumbling voice spot. It sounded something awful, like twofault lines grinding against eachother and causing a earthquake! "So...Youactually made it this far. I thought my underlings would be smarter...But, I guess Iwas wrong. Too bad, I guess I'll just have to eat the rest and start over. Here I thought it was sorted out." The rumbling voice paused, causing the ground the quake slightly. "Who are you, magi? Adventurers? Perhaps some kind of..." A scoff follows, " Paladins?"
[20:04:16] Panting, covered in sweat, blood and even a bit of tears from the pain Yuri glares at the creature. Fear has been totally replaced by adrenaline. A cocky smile creeps its way across the sirens face as he takes two steps forward, towards the creature.


"We're heroes. And we're here to kick your butt. Now prepare to loose!"

Arming his rifle and surrounding himself in an aura of water the youngling prepares for combat. The runes on his rifle begin to emit a light glow and his spirit growls at the opponent.

"You guys ready?"
(Yuri B'nk)
[20:06:49] Down down, down they fell!

Flame and and lighing that struck like shadow and hell dragged across the bodies of the creatures, Thom backing up a little bit as oppposed to his typical fighitng on the front line attitude. Waves would have rolled forth from the bow, striking foes but he also attempted not to draw as much of their anger as he had with the spiders. With the venom still pumping through his system it was rather.. hard to focus as if he were at full power.

But eventually the last would have been felled, and Thom took several deep breaths. The orange haired youth barely had time to focus however. He wouldn't have noticed the shell, but the eletrical cackling of his summon drew his attention to it, and seemed almost as if it were smirking. The bow would quickly be pulled back, flame and lighting charging into yet another arrow.

"Hey guys.. That big thing is bad. I can tell.. Let's take care of it."

Thom would begin putting a large amount of eletrical and pyromatic energy into the arrow, taking a bit even from the creature he had brought into this world to empower it.

"We are indeed Yuri! Lets do this! FIRE IN THE HOLE!"
(Thom)
[20:08:32] Sirus grit his teeth as he heard the rumbling voice echo across the cavern. There was no mistaking it... That must've been the Earthen Kaor Yokai! Readying his blade in an offensive stance, his eyes glared at the large turtle shell before them. Was it the shell itself that was the Yokai? Maybe something under it? He couldn't really tell.

"Reveal yourself, wretch so we can grant you a swift death! Your kind has -NO- right to breathe the same air as our ancestors have! I've felled a Kaor once and so help me Kraus, Ryujin, and Azrael I will do so again!" He yelled back towards the voice's source in an arrogant manner.

He looked over his shoulder to his friends with a confident grin on his face. Even with the spider venom still flowing through his body from a while ago the young man's spirit was alive and burning just like the aura surrounding him. "Aye, let's teach this Kaor a lesson not to mess with the Eternal Flame!"
(Sirus Blackmane)
[20:11:56] Marina had never been more embarrassed in her life. The only thing worse than the words coming from her mouth was the way everyone reacted. It was obviously an effect of the ring, but….man did she look stupid. Finally, a fight. Good she needed some heads to bust, and her mana had pretty much fully returned so…yeah this was going to be fun. Even if the fight had been caused by her uncontrollable need to shout random and obscene things. The fight starts. The enemy proves to be strong, but Marina holds her own only suffering some blows that get mostly absorbed by her armor. In a flurry of flame and darkness Marina barrages the enemy with magic and sword combined. Finally, the demons fall. Panting slightly Marina sheaths her blood. Moving on.


They come across…well she wasn't sure what it was. But it was obviously in charge. And very, very large. How…how were they going to even begin to beat something like that? Marina sighs, can't back down now, no. She was too angry at her bad luck during this mission, she would fight….she had her friends by her side. They could win, they'd faced things like this before and come out on top every time. This was no different.


Marina redraws her blade. Time for an epic speech. "All of the above, we are the Eternal Flame, Heroes of Valmashia, scourge to evil and vanquishers of demons and we will not allow you to continue your vile acts" she says. Marina's large wings snap out behind her, her hazel eyes blazing with fire.

(Marina Avner)
[20:24:44] There was a shake of her head, looking towards the goliath. "Not paladins, not at all. We're just trying to do the right thing for all those who are passerbies in this area." The blunette looked upon the giant. "Your control over this land will cease, by our hands." Her eyes were in the beasts direction.

"These folk by my side, are allies of mine, and we are here to finish you once and for all for your evil." Her hands resting on Elmwood with fire welling up in crevices along its gnarled bauble.

The woman had her goal in sight, the Kaor lord was here, was it not? This would finally be it! To finally put the Kaor lord in its place, to crush it in battle.
(Liara Myr)
{NARRATION} The sound of a hiss echoes through the air. The enormous shell shudders slightly before legs push out, slamming into the ground with a quake of earth. Slowly, rising off his ancient perch, the kaor tears free the cobwebs while red eyes stare from inside the spiked shell. This guy made Bowser look downright cute! Pushing his head through, the Kaor had an enormous 'beak', like that of a snapping turtle. One bite would no doubt be the end for anything that got near his powerful jaws. Old and cracked scales cover any skin exposed outside the shell, dull with dust and rust over the years. Enormous in both size and of power, the Kaor began to laugh a deep and empty sound. It made the support beams treble slightly…Stomping his foot once, a rumbling sound echoes through the air. An ear splitting bellow cracking the earth of the floor below and of the ceiling above. Stalagmites cracked and fell, crashing down and causing the magi to back away. Less they get split in half by one. "You think YOU can defeat me? I think NOT!" From all around, three of those terrible Arachne horrors crawl out. They hiss and spit, crawling up to stand on their master's shell. "Show me, is your heart REALLY so true?"
[20:51:12] {combat} Sirus Blackmane has been defeated by The Old Giant! They're unable to continue fighting.
[20:51:12] {combat} Yuri B'nk has been defeated by The Old Giant! They're unable to continue fighting.
[20:52:03] {combat} Liara Myr has been defeated by The Old Giant! They're unable to continue fighting.
[20:52:03] {combat} Marina Avner has been defeated by The Old Giant! They're unable to continue fighting.
[20:52:03] {combat} Thom has been defeated by The Old Giant! They're unable to continue fighting.
[20:52:54] {combat} Lucius Volusenna has been defeated by The Old Giant! They're unable to continue fighting.

Note: Round 1 and round 2 results separated here. Also the resulting rolls were a 6 for Marina and a 1 for Sirus

[20:59:44] {combat} Sirus Blackmane has been defeated by The Old Giant! They're unable to continue fighting.
[20:59:44] {combat} Marina Avner has been defeated by The Old Giant! They're unable to continue fighting.
[20:59:44] {combat} The Old Giant has been defeated by Liara Myr! They're unable to continue fighting.
{NARRATION} The battle was brutal, the giant was unlike anything else. The ground under him trembled, the rocks above tore down upon the group, and even after being so close…They couldn't pull it off. But the kaor was weakened, his strength waned as the battle continued. He fought back, he tried his best to keep them from digging their blades and their magic into him. But, as time went on, the enormous creature showed weakness. Breathing harshly, his minions long dead, the goliath backed off from the group with a thundering snarl. "You cannot defeat me! I am as strong as the mountains! I will NOT fall to some simple minded MAGI!" In his outrage, the creature knocks a supporting beam out, his long tail swing around to knock another one. Through the battle, most of them had fallen. There was almost nothing keeping the ceiling from crumbling, even now it crumbled…It cracked, and the booming voice of the prideful kaor helped it none. CRACK! The open cavern was breaking…It was caving IN. The ground shook and the monster looked up in shock. His own home was betraying him! "No…No, no, no!" Trying to escape it, to avoid the collapsing rocks, the monster slams back into the wall of the cavern, causing a large crack to crawl all the way up; meeting with the previous fracture. During the fight, Sirus had fought hard, but he could not avoid the jaws of the giant, with one gory bite, his left arm was torn away and leaving him with phantasmal pains that would last YEARS to come. Marina was unlucky, but her injury was far less brutal. The clawed limbs of the giant had struck her, though she survived the attack? She was at loss for three of the fingers on her right hand. Her middle, ring finger, and pinkie were cut CLEAN off. (perm -10 vit nerf for Sirus, Marina's injury is purely cosmetic) The cracks above them gros and grow, the rock finally giving in and breaking off. The chunks of earth crash down on the giant as his bellows ring out. The magi better leave the large room and escape to the caves…Less they want to join the kaor's fate. (Flee rolls please.)
{NARRATION} (If someone's flee rollis too low, and another participant has enough of a flee roll, they can save them)
[21:33:00] A brutal battle indeed.

The monster just kept coming at them, slamming his blade at all members of the group. Thom attempted to fight but it was difficult. Compared to his normal strategy of getting closer and dealing damage, the orange haired youth would be absolutely terrified of the idea and reduced to lobbing bolts of lighitng and fire from afar. Drawing back his bow and imbuding it with eletrical mana, lighting would fly, piercing the yokai's skin.

It was certainly difficult. Once again Thom was in a situation where his power alone wasn't enough. In fact, if it was not for the eletrical creature he summoned he knew for a fact he would have falle, especailly given the venom that was still running rampant in his system. But luckily Thom would have gotten a bit far away when he noticed something.

The supports were being destroyed. This kaor yokai was aiming to take them all down with him. "GUYS WE GOTTA RUN!!" With one last giant arrow of flames leaping forth from Thom's bow the boy would make his retreat, vanishing into red lighting and he aimed to head outside the caves, stopping only when he noticed Sirus and Marina's injuries.

He would have teleported over to them, making sure they could move, before making his way to safety once more, stopping only a moment to call out "LIARA MAKE SURE TO GRAB THE LODESTONE!!" before noticing she was a bit busy with a spirit. Glancing around Thom searched for the stone himself, aiming to grab it if it were visable before making his escape. For real this time.
(Thom)
[21:37:16] "HEROES ALWAYS WIN!" He yells out triumphantly with an idiotic smile on his face before noticing how the cavern has started to collapse.

"OH YAMA! YOU TAKE THE LODESTONE I'M OUT OF HERE!"

Eyes wide his happiness was not long lived, quickly being replaced with fear as he turns around and makes a run for it. Jumping, diving and even floating through the caverns with the aid of his wind, water, sound and ice magics. Using ice to destroy any falling debris, wind and water to push himself over obstacles. Sound to weaken barriers so he could break through them with ice.

He dodges left and right, being a very fast runner even faster than anyone else in the group. Faster to such an extent that he had left them far behind in his adrenaline filled rush to the exit.

"I KNEW IT WOULD COLLAPSE!"

Finally he sees the light at the end of the tunnel, and not because he died, grinning he flys out of the caves and right outside. Happy to have finally not be confined within the claustrophobic cavern walls of the horrible, horrible place they were just in.

"I never... thought I'd miss the sky so much." He says panting, occasionally taking a few deep breaths between many quick ones.

"We made it. All of us... Even though it was with injuries..."

(Yuri B'nk)
[21:41:32] "Grab the Lodestone he says. Do you see it, Thom?" There was no lodestone, it'd seem that something else was at play a different plan, with their victory all but secured, she'd note that the spirit was moving quite slow, languid even, and with a series of water bubbles coming to warp around his position, he would feel himself come to rest against the interior of the bubbles.

Moving in tandom with the bubble, Liara was quick to get to the fringe of the Kaor's range, being certain to be free and out of the way, to escape from the Kaor lords last movement, the last act of destruction, with his fall, meant the safety of many many more.

"PHWEH. . ." It was a peculiar sound that Liara would loose, flopping to her hands and knees after escaping the dropping bolders. "Everyone alright?"
(Liara Myr)
[21:42:24] The fight against the monster proved harder. He had minions but they managed to take them down rather easily leaving them with just the giant Koar. Marina fights as usual with a mix of destructive magic, fire, flames, and a combination of the two, getting in close to strike with her sword when necessary. It was on one of these close-run ins that she underestimated the path of a swing. Clawed hands fly towards her, Marina brings up her blade to block but the strike is low, she cries out has clawed fingers cleave through her right hands, Ring, middle, and pinkie fingers.


She cries out in shock more than pain, fuck that was not going to be fun later. The balance on her blade would be off now until she trained and learned how to grab things with three fingers missing. But on the bright side the ring finger on her right hand was now cut off, that's right the very finger she had been wearing the cursed ring. And then the place began to crack, there was no time to celebrate/mourn the loss of her fingers.


Marina sighs folding her wings behind her back and then running but making sure to look around and count heads. She would only exit after everyone was out of the collapsing cave, such was the life of someone who had forced themselves into somewhat of a higher role within the Flame. The lives of your companions came before your own, that was a creed (Hmm time to add a new quote to my description)

(Marina Avner)
[21:44:06] The blood was pumping, the heat of battle was getting to Sirus' head. Seeing the Kaor weaken, a wide grin formed upon Sirus' face. "Hah! I've got you against the wall, demon! DIE!" The young man leaped toward the Yokai's head rather recklessly thanks to the fire magic getting to his head. This was his chance! This was the time to deliver the final blow to the Yokai! This was his time to become a HERO!


*TEEEAAAARRR*

It happened in a matter of mere seconds. A pain he'd never felt before consumed the left side of his body. At this very moment it felt like time slowed to a near halt for the young warrior. His pupils dilated at the sudden surge of pain flooding up his nerves to the brain. Panicked, his pupils shaking with fear looked over to what caused the pain.

There was a large splash of blood... tendons... viscera. He saw something holding his greatsword fly away from him in this slowed perception of time. Whatever was holding his greatsword was wearing armor... his armor. Then the realization hit Sirus...

The man's left arm was ripped off of his body... (-10 perm vit nerf)

"N-......N-no...." was all he could muster to say. The pain was too great for Sirus. Shortly after his realization, his perception of time returned to normal as he landed on the ground rather harshly from his leap. Bleeding out from his stump of a shoulder, the young warrior's life was flashing before his eyes.

He paid the price by making a sacrifice for the service of Cinderfall and the Eternal Flame. But he couldn't die here... No, he needed to continue on. He HAD TO CONTINUE ON!

Gritting his teeth while fighting through the pain, he clenched the stump of his shoulder as the flaming aura grew the brightest its ever been, the orange in his irises glowing as bright as he could. "No... It's not my time... It's not... my... TIIIME!" He yelled out as he ran over to where his arm landed.

The intense flames circling him was in the process of cauterizing the wound slowly while he removed his now bloody hand from the stump. He couldn't just leave his greatsword. No... He couldn't. He grabbed it with his still-intact arm and proceeded to run with the others, adrenline pumping throughout his entire body like a soldier injected with morphine.

Soon the party managed to get out of the collapsing cave. The flames around Sirus died down as the young warrior with a bleeding stump looked back over to his friends. "S-so...." He spoke through clenched teeth. "D-drinks are..... on me..." After muttering his promise, the man collapsed into an unconscious state.
(Sirus Blackmane)
{NARRATION} With the collapse of the cavern and the escape of the magi, they would bear witness to an enormous explosion. The kaor, still obviously fighting the enormous weight falling on him, was pushing far too much mana into the earth. When he finally could fight no more, when the quarry FINALLY caved in, a burst of magic built up and condensed to form a mighty explosion. It send rock and dirt alike flying, it caved in and left rubble in its wake. Anything that was inside? Dead as a door knob---Well, deader than a talking door knob. The light pushed out and sent the group flying backwards. Some of the creatures left over tried to run, but they were quickly consumed by the release of excess mana. What was left in the rubble? A newly formed loadstone, made of condensed earth magic and stone. Though the group would need to do a LOT of digging, it seems they had gotten what they so desperately sought. Even if it was not QUITE the way they expected to get it. Happy ending? Well, not for Sirus; someone should really give that guy a hand.
[22:02:01] Safety!

The group seemed to get out just in time! Thom took deep breaths, having escaped the dangers that delved within the once cavern.. There was a giant explosion that happened in the backround, likely looking awesome as the group made their exit, but once they were outside very quickly Thom's adreniline would come to an end. Everything still hurt and the venom was still in his system.

"Ugh.."

But before Thom worried about his own pain Thom would walk over to Sirus, noticing the boy fell over. The younger boy would have propped him up, the cackling of the creature he brought into the world in his ear and quickly ignored for the time being. Thom would focus on getting Sirus to safety. It was the least he could do for years ago.

"I think I see the lodestone now.. And should we start heading back to camp? I think Sirus is exhausted.." A nod of hte youth's head before realizing that now it was a calm situation.

"So do you actually go around your house naked because it makes you feel free like a real dragon?"
(Thom)
[22:05:26] Marina Avner: Thom.....even I did you woudln't know what to do if you saw.
[22:05:26] Thom: ... Tell the doorknob?
[22:06:17] Marina Avner: ..............I'll shove the doorknob so far up however brings it p next ass that even it won't know what lewd comment to make.
[22:07:08] Marina Avner: *Whoever
[22:07:08] Lucius Volusenna: I think it would enjoy that, actually.
[22:07:08] Lucius Volusenna: Should have burned it then and there...
[22:07:08] Thom: (i died because i misread it as 'i'
[22:08:00] Sirus Blackmane: . . . <*Passed out so can't even make a snarky comment*>
[22:08:00] Marina Avner: I...I thought it might make a good defense for the camp if we ever got a door.
[22:08:00] Marina Avner: Anyway.
[22:08:51] Marina Avner: Gotta help this bleeding boy here.
[22:08:51] Thom: ... Can't do that if I outrun you! And it will make a good defense!
[22:08:51] Marina Avner: <*Sighs*>
[22:08:51] Lucius Volusenna: Perhaps it will make opposing armies so uncomfortable that they leave?
[22:08:51] Lucius Volusenna: Or maybe it will seduce their commander, yes?
[22:09:42] Marina Avner: <Heads over to Sirus and looks down at his bleeding arm....well then.....she ignites her hand and uses the burning fire to finsih the job he had started to cautierze the wound*>
[22:13:07] A peering glimpse towards Thom, shaking her head at the male. "Don't ask that of a woman Thom." Simply putting forth that as she'd head into the rubble, intent on recovery of the lodestone.

Earth shifted and shunted about, as well as was efforted into shelved piles, She felt for that ambient mana, sensed the depravity, and largely merely followed it. Newfound sunlight even bled down deep into the crevace that was this local, lending to just how much rubble the Kaor lord had called down in his last ditch effort to take victory form the jaws of defeat.

She wouldn't even stop either, until the Lodestone was secured to return to Cinderfall with. Depraved or not, that's where Maria's own efforts would come in, to purify and cleanse this conglomerate of jewels. But first, it needed found, didn't it?
(Liara Myr)
[22:14:49] Thom: -pout- but its good to ask questions.. -assits Marina via getting some bandages ready for after cautierization-
[22:15:40] Sirus Blackmane: <*Sirus stirred in his unconscious state*>
[22:15:40] Marina Avner: <*Sighs* He's still going to need some serious healing when we get back.