Raid for Ode to Spring

[18:15] {NARRATION} The alarm bells begin to ring.

A squad of elite magi swoop down into the fortress of Dawn, felling guardsmen and overpowering the defenses -- only to be met by relatiation forces. As they fight, the attackers work to pry open the vaults of the city in search of a certain something.

Thera vs Freya
Ashalle vs Salvas
Firestarter vs Locran


Other signups --

Levenzhou:
Isaac
Laemor
Enki
Emiri
Noel


Dawn:
Feth
Iral
Eryn


Others??

((Those remaining can organize themselves. Cap 1 suggested for main fights, cap 0 for self-organized.))
[18:18] Teng Biao says, "I desire a blade."
[18:26] It was almost amusing that the recently Knighted Eryn would just happen to be patrolling the fortress when a force attacked it. Truly, exceedingly fortuitous events, right? Well, either way, as the attacks forced their way into the fortress, Ser Eryn was there to meet them -oh, and Feth, too! Two of Artaghh's favorite people, up against a towering Golem and a man that frankly Eryn didn't really recognise -she'd never been to Levengard, what did you expect?

Her wings burst from her back, spreading out to their full length in an attempt at intimidation, as the young woman's staff was raised, fire already building over its focusing crystal. Her hood was raised, the habit of fighting with it on reinforced by the enchantments running over it. This was Ser Eryn's second real fight, and the first one she'd thought with Sanu and won a Knighthood over it. Looking at these two, she hoped she might seize another such victory.

But frankly, she doubted it.


(Eryn Evanstere)
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[18:27] Surrounded by tall iron walls as their supporting magi went to work on prying open the metal vaults, there is immediate chaos in the lower depths of the fortress. Flashes of magic light up the room and the ringing of blades connecting echoes sharply throughout the building. In all of this, there stands a man with midnight black hair and two wings that match the dark shades.

He is smiling.

His eyes are two flames in the dark, dancing. Thinly cut emeralds that pierce through the conflict and watch pleasantly.

They were so close now.

Isaac's gloved hands lift up as he joins in the fray, bloody rubies slipping out of his loose garb, twirling around him. In it all, he finds the company of the massive golem inviting - staning beside the collossus as they find two unoccupied magi and strike in unison.

"Come, earth giant...let's show them the power of your city."
(Isaac Shimasu)
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[18:28] The colossus of Levengard marched, or more accurately, powerfully stomped its way to Dawn alongside the rest of the raiding party. Thoughts ran amuck through its head the entire time, questions and possible answers. What ifs and what-to-dos.

Despite being built as an enforcer first and foremost, it was still freshly awakened and wasn't entirely combat tested, although how much testing could a fifteen foot tall monstrosity of metal and stone require?

Arcanium flowed like quicksilver across its form, stone quickly coated in the stuff into a thin layer sheathed the entirety of Enki's form, as powerful a suit of armor as could ever be imagined, one that flowed and molded to his every action.

The digits on the right hand had molded together into a shovel-like blade, the edge dripping with molten stone, while the left hand had extended into long bludgeoning things, each finger tipped with a rounded head, like a mace.

"It will be interesting to see the power of this frame..." It muttered, voice booming, crystalline eyes piercing to those two foes.

"Let's."
(Enki)
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[18:29] They're here!

The boy shouts out to the other soldiers nearby, calling for them. Civilians rush past the square in hordes to their homes -- some screaming and fleeing, others readying themselves to fight. He starts towards his home to prepare himself.

Armor seldom worn is latched onto his body, that he'd only recently grown into. The newly enchanted, masterfully crafted sword of his is held in his hand. He then hurries back out to meet the enemy forces. Quick to find them.

They're an intimidating force.

A towering golem and the many powerful magi nearby it. His sword tremors as adrenaline rushes through his body, leylines awakening. Instincts kicking in. He goes to stand with a readied sword next to the others of the Legion. Those of Dawn.

Energy escapes his body and his eyes glow a bright green underneath his hood. Ready and without a word from him.
(Feth Vishkar)
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[18:29] Isaac Shimasu whispers something.
[18:30] Enki whispers something.
[18:34] Isaac Shimasu whispers something.
[18:34] Isaac Shimasu whispers something.
[18:34] Enki whispers something.
[18:34] Enki whispers something.
[18:34] Enki whispers something.
[18:37] ** Isaac Shimasu has inflicted an injury upon Eryn Evanstere. ("Temporary Injury", "Temporary Injury", "Temporary", "Duration: Medium (4 days)") **
[18:47] As the fortress is in uproar around them, Isaac has some fun with this. A thousand black feathers join his wings and take him up into the air, beating away - some guards might think they're witnessing a fallen angel of legend, while others surely know him as a bane to their city and a traitor to their cause. He takes the air as Enki secures the ground level...

And from up above, he rains helfire down on their challengers. With each snap of his fingers and swipe of his hand, great arcs of ruby red flame swallow the metal room -- they're not the usual yellows and oranges you'd expect, deeper. Like blood. Blades of ethereal unlight join in with the assault as he lets himself go, not holding back in the slightest - having to narrowly dodge blasts of green energy and the swing of a greatsword.

"Ourr opponents aren't as pathetic as I expected, earth giant. Watch out, now!" He chimed with a grin. Despite the warning, he's as reckless as ever.

The occasional flicker of blue flame within Eryn's fire catches his eye, crimson eyes focusing on the artificer, "Oh? Please..." Feeling challenged in the moment, his hands twirl together - conjuring smoke and heat in an accelerating motion - then his palms slip out and he unleashes a sphere of ruby flame, a bolt of fire that she might attempt to stop with her own magic. But try as she may, Eryn is blasted back from the impact, defeated and forced to take cover behind the swarm of knights that were gradually trickling into the room.

"Is that the best you can do? Ode to Spring will be ours."
(Isaac Shimasu)
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[18:51] True to its colossal nature, the golem was nearly impossible to bend or break. There was no attempt to dodge, only to take the brunt of the attacks on its hide. Most magic deflected off the arcanium-sheathed stone with contemptable ease, though some wore through as the battle stretched on, the golems mana running low in an attempt to maintain such an aegis.

The earth rumbled around it, the ground impossible to properly traverse as an earthquake devastated the area. Stone pathways crumbled to mud and trenches, rapidly filling with molten magma and scorching flames. The runic circuitry across its form began to glow brighter and brighter as it fought, the core heating up like an out out of control furnace.

And still it fought, heedless of Isaac's warning, eyes glittering to another who'd taken to the skies. "Oscuri." The voice rumbled, and the giant struck, the left hand swiping the lad down to the ground. Merely a stunning blow, but before he could take back to the skies-

"Cease." The spaded right cleaved through mana-created wings and the flesh of the back, a small fire forming from the impact, magma scorching skin and muscle.

"He will not be a problem any longer." The colossus stated with emotionless contempt, marching on past them.
(Enki)
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[19:02] The battle began, and the Knight of Wyverns rushed headlong into it, throwing wave after wave of flame towards their foes. Forcing her mana to compress as she formed it into flames, Eryn displayed just how much Artaghh's advice about endurance training had paid off, her fire magic a bright blue at several moments throughout the fight. Not for the entirety of it -she wasn't there yet- but still significantly more than prior fights had displayed.

She tried to focus on the smaller target, rightfully expecting him to be the more difficult opponent, especially when he made use of wings quite a bit different to her own. For a moment she took to the sky herself, but Eryn's drakanite wings allowed only limited flight, and whilst she got a few good blasts of orange flame in, ultimately she ended up back on the ground, ducking into a roll and coming back up onto her feet. Even so, she was clearly wounded in several places, nasty burns over her body, crystals sometimes still inside the wounds they'd caused.

Unlike the two facing them, Eryn fought silently save for the occasional grunt of pain and wordless war-cry, the effort of forming words deemed wasteful as the Drakanite ferociously fought. For a few moments, her mind saw a victory, just within their grasp....blue flame blasted from her palm, and then she saw it, a blast of ruby fire rushing towards her. She drew her wings in, taking advantage of their natural resistance to fire, and drew on her own cosmic magic to form more of a barrier. Still, it was not enough, and although the strike was not deadly, the young knight knew that her part in the fight was over, rushing back and rolling over the shield of a knight, slipping behind a barrier and wincing as she began to extract leftover crystal from her body.
(Eryn Evanstere)
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[19:06] He fights to push his limits.

The resilient colossus and magically potent demi-angel are opponents unfit for children, but without hesitation he attacks. Devoured by the hunger for battle of the rieka about his form, he rushes forward and swings his blade. Brave for him to attempt to match them.

But he's quick to learn they're not for him to take on.

Connecting the end of his blade to the tough vessel of the behemoth spirit, he isn't able to make more than scratches. The masterwork within his hands vibrating and letting out harsh ringing with each attack. Try and try as he does he's unable to do anything regularly.

Desperately, he summons for nearly all of the rieka within his body. The power of his attacks to be amplified many times over and his maneuverability increased as well. Deeper cuts into the golem follow, and he'd also sometimes attempt to make his way over to the angel to aid Eryn.

His energy wouldn't last for long. It was a truly desperate move. And because of his desperation is he vulnerable. He flies to the skies at a rapid pace to challenge the demi-angel, and as he does the earthen creation swipe at him. Flung towards the ground and dazed, but quick to try recovering.

And it's then when his vulnerability costs.

Before he can get back up to the skies a heart-wrenching cry escapes him. Magma burning away at his flesh and his circuits rended by the intense heat. His wings and energy disappears, falling to the ground. Unconscious and severely wounded, but other soldiers coming to pull him back.
(Feth Vishkar)
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[19:17] {NARRATION} The sound of magic and spellswords clashing rings out throughout the fortress; as the two sides meet in an intense battle, magi of Huangzhou work to pry open the vault in the depths of the fortress, where the only light is the candles on the walls. They're soon succesful, and the signal for the team to head into the vaults is given.

There it is... their goal, Ode to Spring. Even in the dim lighting, it has a soothing sheen to he silver metal, tinted by frost and an unwaveing light.
[19:18] It was Defeat.

By the end of the Fight Iral was kneeling and supporting herself with the Spirit Slaying weapon carved in the ground, holding on it's edge with her bare hands as blood weaves through the weapon's blade. Her greyish eyes meet the ground and her head was lowered.

There was nothing much she could have done in the fight, it was totally unbalanced by her side, his experience by much surpassed her brute force... Even tho she hitted hard, he was fast and experienced. As for her? Iral could only witness the crimson instance of life leaving her, and so their eyes get heavy.

So the, last vision she had before falling to the ground was the one who brought such suffering to her, before being struck the last, hit that made her lose the last drop of the strength that made her leg sustain her body.

Their Energy was slowly fading, Iral could no longer feel her power, nor she could feel the Spirit slaying sword drinking on the Nature, she could only fall with her eyes closed as everything loses it's bright.

"A-ald..." This was her last attempt to call for him, the one that she hates the most... In a rather maddening tone she could see him in the distance, a goal that was strived from her to be reached.

And then, she falls, lacking any energy to stay awake.
(Iral Woodnshire)
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[19:24] The smell of ash and blood stuck to him, now. His hands trembled from excitement, and he could barely hold back his grin as he cut down lesser knights while heading down the spiral of steps - one boot infront of the other, delving deeper and deeper. Almost there. In the shade of the vaults, Isaac's eyes were two thin ruby gemstones that cut through and focused on the prize...

He stepped toward it, and pries it off of the stone platform it rested on.

As soon as he touches the blessed metal, he feels his skin burn - heat rises off of his palm in wisps, the blessed spear resisting him.

Of course it would never accept him.
He was too tainted. His gaze fell half-lidded with a slight frown beneath a disappointed stare, and despite the discomfort, his grip is unrelenting, unable to let go for a good minute or so. Trying to force it to accept him, but to no avail. The other magi might have retreated by now, or headed into the vaults with him...

"Thera."

Turning towards the spiritmancer, Isaac offered it out to her. She can see the marks on his skin as he passes it over -- all that are present can, "Now, let's get out of here before we're swarmed, yeah?"
(Isaac Shimasu)
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[19:25] Isaac Shimasu whispers something.
[19:39] As Isaac marches forward, several spirits treat Freya just as their spiritmancer did. Grabbing the undesirables and nuisances and dragging them away. There is only one within this place who's head she desires, going as far as challenging Isaac to make her claim on that one's head...

Facing away from the demi, she walks backwards, making sure that non assault them with a sneak attack. Axe in hand, she remains prepared to strike if need be. With Shai's golden frame hovering peeking from her back, it's the spirit that witnesses the raven's disappointment. Spinning around, any who approach risk facing the berserker rather than the Oracle.

"Hm?" Spectral eyes shifting, her gaze is cast upon the spear, noticing the marks on his flesh as he weapon of legend is offered. One hand places the Arcanium axe upon her back, and the other reaches towards the object-

Sera's spear.

The Ode to spring.

Lithe fingers curl around the pole, grasping it tight. Both hands grasp tight, and the spearhead begins to produce small flakes of snow, fluttering to the ground. "...of course. Let's move out." She could feel something churning in her gut, likely evoked from it's radiate aura.
(Thera Elisheva)
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[19:44] Finally, she reached inside.

But it was for nothing, all of that effort. Familiar faces - So many she had seen once before. Aia stands still, motionless and without sound. She just watches... Stares at the escaping party as the collar hangs heavily atop her shoulders. Something inside of her burns into ashes as the combined forces of Huangzhou and Levengard make their escape with an artefact in hand.

Now she understood why Li seemed to accept his fate...

"... I need a cup of tea..." She mutters, stepping over the myriad of corpses and debris as she starts to head back outside.
(Aia Hirabayashi)
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[19:57] Spicegirl says, "I'm glad you're safe."
[20:03] Marceline asks, "What the heck were those guys storming the castle for?"
[20:03] The attackers forced back or otherwise departed, the burned, bloodied Drakanite staggers out, cloak in tatters, scorched staff slung over her back. She's silent, for the most part, her only verbalisation brief sounds of pain as she makes her way out of the fortress. Her pain is acceptable, treatable. But there are tears in her eyes, trailing down her soot covered face. She wasn't close enough to help, and Locran is dead. Not even enough of him left to carry out. In the end, the armour she forged for him, the enchantments she put upon it...worthless. She staggers past whatever crowd has formed silently, making her way...somewhere else.
(Eryn Evanstere)
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[20:04] Chad Padwick asks, "Eryn? Is it true?"
[20:05] Chad Padwick asks, "Eryn. Where is Locran?"
[20:06] Eryn Evanstere says, "..."
[20:06] Chad Padwick says, "Eryn, please, don't do this."
[20:17] She reaches her destination, and just sort of...folds, collapsing onto her knees, again silently. No attention is paid to the Neries following her, the Drakanite grappling with the fact that not only is Locran dead, but someone is going to have to tell Artaghh that. Tell him that his newest squire is gone, all because of his foolish bravery, and his unwillingness to beg. There was something admirable in that. He's still dead though. Eryn is unsure if there was even enough to necromance. The body was barely recognisable, let alone intact.

She falls forwards, now on hands and knees. Her hands crumple into fists, grass trapped in her grip, then smoking, then burning, flame catching the greenery. It looks like grief and anger were powerful emotions, because although she barely feels the strain, the flames a bright blue as they burst into being, fire hungrily devouring the space beneath her hands. She crying now, properly, tears falling down her face as she looks out at lets out a scream, wordless but meaning still clear. A cry of loss, of a future torn away far too soon.

The blue fire bursts from her in a forward facing wave, leaving scorched grass behind, and finally the young woman grows still, and silent once more.


(Eryn Evanstere)
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[20:21] Chad grows quiet, he simply let's the Drakanite deal with her emotions. Nothing could be said at this moment that could in anyway do a single thing. Chad looks at Spicegirl with a feature that looks conflicted in nature. Then his sienna hued eyes fall on Eryn. Silently.

"I will be there if you need a friend."

He gibes Spicegirl a 'Help her!' glance but then he heads out. Nothing qwas good enough for her grief.
(Chad Padwick)
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[20:32] Spicegirl waited patiently for the right moment to speak, following the Drakanite from the square to the fields like a second tail. Not even a glance was spared in her direction, which showed how bothered Eryn was by the events that had just transpired. After a heart-felt display of raw emotion, the Knight rested atop of freshly-scorched grass.

On the bright side, it seemed that she was a lot more proficient at summoning the blue flames that she'd been working on mastering the last time that the two had sparred. Seconds, and then minutes passed after the young dragon had gone silent, a silence shared by her Ookamim squire and friend.

If Eryn was attentive, perhaps she'd notice that Spicegirl had taken a seat next to her, where she'd just stare off into the ocean. The only thing that she had to offer the Evanstere was her company.
(Spicegirl)
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[20:43] There were long moments of silence before Eryn stirred. Everything hurt, the young woman marred with several wounds and burns. She pushed herself upright, a quiet gasp of pain following the action. "I need...treatment." Not that she knew where to get it, now that Locran was gone. He had truly been Dawn's best medic, in her heart, at least.

"Thank you, for sitting with me." Her words were sincere and grateful, the Knight pushing down her grief, for now. She'd process it herself alone, probably through long, sleepless nights, but for now she needed to move past it. She limped back to the main square, making a quick decision as she went. Something that felt right, but she'd need time to organise. A quick word was passed to a nearby soldier, a request for Locran's armour and weapon to be brought to her home, in whatever state it was.
(Eryn Evanstere)