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TheRealJumpy

Divine Death Archon

TheRealJumpy
Jul 16th, 2019
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  1. [17:34] {NARRATION} Fair warning before we begin this event, as I warn everyone who goes into these.
  2.  
  3. This event is absolutely a High Chance of Death event.
  4. - - - - - - - - - - -
  5. If you ever drop below 100 vitality from injuries on the event, you WILL die.
  6.  
  7. If you get permanently injured three times in this event, you WILL die.
  8.  
  9. If you get knocked down on most of the rounds in the final boss fight and roll very low, you WILL ABSOLUTELY DIE.
  10.  
  11. If you LOSE the final fight, you will all roll a D20 and the lowest roll WILL die.
  12. - - - - - - - - - - -
  13. Healing Elixirs and Medical Kits are allowed. Lax Essence are also allowed.
  14. Every single person on the event may take ONE injury for another person on the event.
  15. - - - - - - - - - - -
  16. Your IC post is almost done. One moment before we begin!
  17. [17:35] {NARRATION} [ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCfOjorfqjE ]
  18.  
  19. Sweltering, nasty volcano. That was what they were after, right? The diary had spoken of a place where most of the crew had been taken after their entire ship had sunken at sea. It wasn't the greatest read - Frankly? It was terrifying. Ethan Hawke and his party find themselves on the beaches of Obsidia far to the north when a ship he had contracted comes by. Collecting all of them, they're left to sail to the island following current patterns and projected area of divergence that the text had to have followed to reach Agartha's mainland.
  20.  
  21. And three hours into their sail, they can see something out of the corners of their eyes. A large, shattered mast raises up and out of the water, with a collosal wooden boat below the water. Clear enough that they could see through the water and spot the sharks and fish swimming around this sunken battleship, the ship starts to gain speed as they were on the right path.
  22.  
  23. Our party lands now on this beach with their boots hitting sand almost immediately. Various skeletons of the dead lay on the beachfront.. But what's more?
  24.  
  25. Several of the skulls have since been removed, and in a line that seemed to surround the entire beachfront - These skulls had been speared through stakes as a warning to all that come here.
  26.  
  27. Death is imminent.
  28. [17:42] A journey like this beginning on a boat was perhaps all too significant for the old man; Hunter's Island had the same kind of travel before its great unveiling. A certain eagerness was present in the man thorough the entire way there - ideas of how they would be able to get the fabled riches depicted in that diary were festering until they met with the land.
  29.  
  30. The beaches of Obsidia were rarely traveled at all. No one truly needed to lay foot there and the steep climb made it far too unpractical when one could dock in Levengard, Huangzhou, or Dawn instead. Perhaps this was why the treasure remained unfound to this day - or so the Wayfinder believed.
  31.  
  32. The smile on his face dropped when he saw the scene unveiled before them. Skeletons— though not the reanimated kind that moved and skittered around, no. These ones were very much the remains of many, many adventurers before them. Was it only the crew of the ship or... much more?
  33.  
  34. That being said, Ethan grew a lot more serious and far less giddy. This was dangerous. Very dangerous.
  35.  
  36. A breath escaped his lips.
  37.  
  38. "Let's... get moving."
  39.  
  40. He suddenly did not want to be there longer than necessary.
  41. (Ethan Hawke)
  42. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  43.  
  44. [17:43] After having gotten back into the swing of going on adventures, Marceline decided to put herself in a position where she was truly risking her life. What could possibly go wrong? At the very least, her and Taiga were experienced with the territory. They had ventured to a similarly deadly volcano before.
  45.  
  46. After around three hours of sailing, the fairy floated to the shore and groaned. "Finally." she griped. Did sitting still for so long make her so bored that she was ready to die? Probably not. She was confident that she was going to be just fine.
  47.  
  48. She surveyed the surrounding area. The fairy wasn't squeamish, the image of skulls being impaled on pikes not causing her to even flinch. Yet, the message was received. "I've gotta say, a lot of attention to detail here. They really went through the effort to remove the heads and put them on sticks." she tried to speak nonchalantly, but there was an underlying tone of uneasiness.
  49.  
  50. With that, she'd get moving.
  51. (Marceline)
  52. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  53.  
  54. [17:45] Most things like this were easy for her, no worry of sea sickness, and non-magical heat was something that didn't faze her in the slightest. She had nothing to 'burn'.
  55.  
  56. Stepping onto the sand silver eyes scan the beachfront, appalled by all of the dead, now reduced to bones laying about. It wasn't as if they were exactly natural deaths either seeing as the heads were mounted.
  57.  
  58. It was a warning.
  59.  
  60. Her eyes took on an inner glow, the Spirit overlapping her vision with that of her more natural realm. The Realm of Spirits.
  61.  
  62. It paid to be aware of natural and supernatural dangers, the Lifestream's energy flowed through her in a small stream, enough to sense for anything unnatural or something that shouldn't exist within it's flow.
  63.  
  64. "Mhm."
  65.  
  66. She wished she could have helped them, but it seems they were far far too late.
  67. (Elayna Taranis)
  68. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  69.  
  70. [17:46] Esso sits atop the deck, watching for the several hours it takes for them to locate their quarry. He spots the mast rising out of the water, pointing it out as they sail by, then next as they land on the beach, he glances over at Ethan before briefly looking over the others he gathered; he recognizes Taiga and Marceline, but he'd not really interacted with the spirit woman much; all he knows about her is that she spends time around Thera.
  71.  
  72. He snaps back to task, squinting forward and looks around at the remnants sitting around; death is obviously very common here. They'd have to make sure they're not added to that list of deceased.
  73. (Esso Invidia)
  74. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  75.  
  76. [17:47] Taiga is fucking here.
  77.  
  78. Does he really want to be? Who knows. The crew would fondly remember him sleeping in the hull nearly the entire way here, slumbering all the way through until they finally come ashore. Lethargically crawling up to the deck, he yawns wide, rows of sharp teeth gleaming in the sunlight.
  79.  
  80. He certainly seems to carry with him a grumpy sort of vibe to him - more pronounced than usual. Sluggish and depressed with his movements, from the weight of all that weighs on his mind, Taiga practically slumps off the boat as they make landing.
  81.  
  82. Taiga slings that massive sword of his around, drawing it pre-emptively. He rests the blade against his shoulder, glancing around at the scenery. "...Quite the display. Showy. Killing a bunch of non-magi and stringing them up by their skulls won't do much to intimidate the strong, however." Taiga pokes one of the skulls with the toe of his boot.
  83.  
  84. "Same way a lock on a door only keeps outhonest folk." He grumbles. "Suppose they don't want to bother with the usual rabble, ah?"
  85. (Taiga Rowan)
  86. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  87.  
  88. [17:52] {NARRATION} [I need everyone but Elayna to /random 1 20 a Perception Check for me.]
  89. [17:55] {NARRATION} Attuning to the flow - Elayna is immediately assaulted with the pain that the lifestream was feeling when she sensed outwards. Everywhere on this island, the lifestream had been wounded and harmed and almost ruined. There are flares of powerful Occult and depraved magics in a plethora across the island.
  90.  
  91. ... But upon turning her senses to even further in the mountain, it's then when she is knocked out of the attunement for a time. Something beyond the depravity wounds lay there. Something that could make a harmonically attuned reel back in pain.
  92.  
  93. The entire island was simply filled with either demons, riftmancers, or necromancers - And seeing as the sky didn't have portals, and the beach didn't have skeletons walking on it. It was likely the former. But what kind of demonic force could inflict such to Elayna?
  94. - - - -
  95. The group proceeds inwards, as a small jungle is in front of them before the bigger fish up ahead. The mountain range lay half a mile's hike ahead, though something catches Marceline's and Ethan's eyes. Elayna had too much of a headache from the place - And Esso was beginning to feel it, too. The natural opposite to their holy. The suffocating influx of Occult.
  96.  
  97. Regardless, some of the trees seem absolutely plastered with a black, purplish rock. A small clearing ahead of them looks like it had been made by this new stone.. Something doesn't feel right here. In the center center of the black stone clearing, a shimmer of emerald can be seen.
  98.  
  99. ... Ethan makes it out as some kind of.. Palm sized orb?
  100. [18:00] Esso stops short before they actually enter the clearing. His face pales slightly as he looks over to Elayna.
  101.  
  102. "This place makes me sick Ethan. I don't know how long we can hold out here. This feels like a trap, just like the rooms in the tower."
  103. (Esso Invidia)
  104. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  105.  
  106. [18:01] The damage to the lifestream would only serve to be beneficial to Marceline. Surely, this would only make it easier for her to invoke chaos magic and tear open rifts. While the feeling of depravity may have been cause for uneasiness and even pain for Elayna, it caused Marceline to proceed forward with confidence.
  107.  
  108. "You're such a baby, Esso. You're probably just used to sitting around all the time." she replied rudely to the Invidia.
  109.  
  110. Funnily enough, if portals needed to be made, Marceline could probably open them more efficiently than Taiga or Ethan in this moment. The group proceeded inward and entered a black stone clearing, before an emerald gleam caught her eye. She squinted, although she wasn't able to make it out as clearly as Ethan.
  111.  
  112. "What's that? Some kind of ritual?"
  113. (Marceline)
  114. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  115.  
  116. [18:02] She was assaulted. The Lifestream's flow nearly torn asunder here, a logical deduction leads her to believe Demons.
  117.  
  118. If it were Demons... it would be more than a few, and more than a few that were very strong, there very well could be an Archon or worse present.
  119.  
  120. Pain was a strange thing for her, she had no nerves, no need to gasp, and yet when harmed she could still feel it. She gasped out of reflex at the onslaught, her eyes filling with tears, not from pain. From sorrow.
  121.  
  122. "The Lifestream is torn and blocked here... too much corruption and misuse for too long.. Whatever is here needs to be stopped from doing this.."
  123.  
  124. She follows behind the others, her senses still out, bearing the pain, she had to do this for them. To try and keep them safe how she's able.
  125. (Elayna Taranis)
  126. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  127.  
  128. [18:02] The Wayfinder felt it the moment they stepped forward; the intensity of the occultic forces here was off the charts. Non-magi may just die from being where they were right now. Even their party was at risk of succumbing to its influence - Taiga more than the rest, Ethan thought.
  129.  
  130. His right hand rises up as a thin barrier of sorts veils his body from the oppressive influence, his senses kept sharp, his mind tranquil. Eyes narrowed far, far ahead. In the middle of the clearing stood an orb - green in color and looking like it oozed out corruption, tainting the land. Calm words escaped his lips as the intensity of the area had caught him more wary than ever.
  131.  
  132. "Yeah... Do you guys see that thing in the middle of all those rocks? It's probably coming from there. If... it's the case we should probably try to take care of it without getting any closer. I've got a bad feeling about touching it, or even approaching."
  133. (Ethan Hawke)
  134. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  135.  
  136. [18:03] Esso shakes his head.
  137.  
  138. "If I'm a baby, you're a fetus Marceline. You don't live to old age as a human without being cautious.
  139.  
  140. There are beings stronger than you here, I promise you."
  141. (Esso Invidia)
  142. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  143.  
  144. [18:03] Taiga marches along with the group, silently taking in the sights as they come. This feeling of depravity and occultist influence wasn't entirely lost on him - though his senses weren't sharp enough to pin it down as anything more than an uneasy feeling in his gut. Easily confused for some other sense of danger prying at the back of his mind, just out of sight and sound.
  145.  
  146. More interesting than that was what he could actually observe. Rocks in trees, huh? Taiga inspects it a little closer. If at all possible, he aims to break some off! Reaching his claws round the bark of the tree and stripping it away, until the rock able to be extracted. Was it perhaps obsidian or some other volcanic rock?
  147.  
  148. "...In the trees too." He grumbles. He passes some mana through, trying to form a circuit. "...I'm in no rush to hop inside the circle either, mind you. Let's get some more definitive information before jumping to conclusions based on gut feelings."
  149. (Taiga Rowan)
  150. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  151.  
  152. [18:04] Marceline says, "There's a difference between being cautious and 'feeling sick'."
  153. [18:04] Esso Invidia says, "You're not cautious if you don't follow your instincts."
  154. [18:04] Esso Invidia says, "Mine are screaming at me."
  155. [18:05] Esso Invidia says, "Feel free to take the lead if you want though."
  156. [18:06] Ethan Hawke says, "We should take care of that orb first."
  157. [18:06] Taiga Rowan says, "...What orb"
  158. [18:06] Esso Invidia says, "Agreed."
  159. [18:06] Ethan Hawke says, "Look carefully in the middle of the rocks."
  160. [18:07] Esso points where Ethan had directed their attention to in the center of the clearing.
  161. (Esso Invidia)
  162. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  163.  
  164. [18:09] {NARRATION} Everyone, roll a D20 for a Dexterity Saving Throw. If you have fly or over 150 Agi, +3 to the roll.
  165. [18:17] {NARRATION} When Taiga brings his hand up to investigate the rock on the tree, he's able to crack it off with some extreme difficulty even with his natural strength as a magi. It seemed harder than most things back on Agartha. But it was simply obsidian, no? There's an underlying feeling below that makes his senses go haywire.
  166.  
  167. It's then when all of the Wayfinders feel something absolutely horrendous about the area they had just set foot in. When Taiga broke the rock, a colossal rift starts to be torn in the space behind them. The lifestream screams - Or does it?
  168.  
  169. What they can all hear when the rift is torn open is the screams of beasts from the rift. Similarly, another rift is torn open from the rock that Taiga had snapped off of the rock - And an obsidian tendril fires off from that rift immediately piercing his chest and stomach with malicious intent. (4 Day Temp assigned after the next fight. Nat 1 :< )
  170.  
  171. The rift that started to be torn open more and more now has obsidian claws that clamp down on the edges of it, pulling and ripping open the rift more and more and more. The screams?
  172.  
  173. Nethradin.
  174.  
  175. A titanic beast coated in obsidian and marble armor rises up and out of the rift that had been opened on the black stone clearing - Two more orbs seem to be lodged in its shoulders. The green orb is thrown to Ethan's feet as it burst from the stone below. Why the orbs..?
  176.  
  177. But before long, the beast is on the assault. The rift led right to Hel, and before they had time to fix it and bash back all that might creep free from the opening - The Obsidian Horror had made its attack.
  178. [18:23] In the end, Esso's paranoia is dead on. Not only does the place make him sick, but it is actively hostile. He leaps back when Taiga takes a spear to the chest, but in almost no time at all, a rift tears open and a monstrous creature emerges, lunging forward to attack. His dagger is drawn with lightning speed as he prepares to skirt the edges of life and death in this dangerous battle.
  179. (Esso Invidia)
  180. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  181.  
  182. [18:25] She heard screaming, as a rift is torn in space clawed hands reaching to grasp, opening it further. Her connection to the Lifestream grew body igniting in golden-white light even as her eyes take on the same.
  183.  
  184. Sword drawn a winged golden shield forms in the air above her, a physical manifestation of her desire to protect brought into reality by the sheer potency of the desire.
  185.  
  186. Nethradin
  187.  
  188. Marceline had not long ago assumed she was a Warden, what came next may make her think the Spirit had told her an untruth.
  189.  
  190. The titanic thing would inspire no fear in the Spirit, her emotions soothed by the same energy she would repel it with.
  191.  
  192. "You don't belong anywhere but from the hole you crawled from Nethradin, it's time to go back."
  193.  
  194. With that golden lightning crackled along her blade, and her dance had begun.
  195. (Elayna Taranis)
  196. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  197.  
  198. [18:26] Uh oh.
  199.  
  200. Marceline turned towards the rift behind them, her eyes widening at the giant tear in reality. Not entirely out of fear, either. She was awestruck at the work of whatever riftmancer created this trap, having never conjured something at this scale on her own. Whoever opened this was vastly skilled in their own right.
  201.  
  202. The use of riftmancy to weaponize Nethradin was only something that she had heard of Malentine doing long ago. Other than that, this was really the first time that she had seen such a use. Her hand obviously reached for her weapon, fingers wrapping around the scales of Indignation. They didn't have a choice.
  203.  
  204. ".. I have to admit, whoever created this trap is a genius." she commented in an inspired tone. But this was the critique of a fashioned riftmancer of the work of an enemy, so they were probably screwed. Embers and sparks coalesced into plasma, purple flames shrouding her form. Someone was going to get hurt.
  205. (Marceline)
  206. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  207.  
  208. [18:26] This was far from the lustful red-skinned cow-like Nethradin he had recently fought; this was a full-on beast, clad in armor and strong enough to produce screams from beyond the physical plane. This Nethradin was... It was a Nethradin, right? It looked like a Demon of sorts, but felt like a Nethradin. Messed up. Insane.
  209.  
  210. The purple horror was already on the move, leaving nearly no time for the party to really prepare for the assault. If the rocks were the source of its defense, then...
  211.  
  212. .. Perhaps it wasn't the orb that had caused this, but rather the orb that held it back. The reason it sat in the middle of that clearing was to guard this prison - to prevent the rift from opening again. The Wayfinder betted it all on that, reaching down for the one that had landed to his feet, grasping it tightly.
  213.  
  214. A green flash appeared right behind the beast's head as Ethan aimed to catch it off guard using spacial magic to warp right above its back. His handmoved down—
  215.  
  216. And he slammed that orb right behind the horror's back!
  217.  
  218. It was worth a shot.
  219. (Ethan Hawke)
  220. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  221.  
  222. [18:26] Ahh you son of a bitch.
  223.  
  224. Taiga has a split second to react - and it's not enough. The tendril runs him through, no two ways about it. Thankfully, of all the party members present that could reasonably afford to have their guts spilled open and survive, Taiga was one of them.
  225.  
  226. Nethradin. Fuck Nethradin. Between Hathor and the dozen other slimy multidimensional bastards he had put down, he had yet to meet a single Nethradin in all his travels that was fun to deal with in any capacity at all. This one was no different at all.
  227.  
  228. Taiga slings his sword around wildly, hissing in pain!
  229.  
  230. "ACK! Damn it!" He curses aloud. His senses flair, and he plunges into battle
  231. (Taiga Rowan)
  232. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  233.  
  234. [18:30] {NARRATION} Please use /vit now.
  235. [18:44] {NARRATION} KOs
  236. - - - - - - - - -
  237. Ethan: 2
  238. Taiga:1
  239. Elayuna: 1
  240. Marceline: 1
  241. Esso: 1
  242. - - - - -- - -
  243. Roll a D6 for injuries now.
  244. [18:46] {NARRATION} Ethan Hawke: 12 Day Temporary
  245. Taiga: No Injury
  246. Esso Naam: 4 Day Temporary
  247. Marceline: 1 Day Temporary
  248. Elayna: 1 Day Temporary
  249. - - - - - - - -
  250. Injuries will be handed out accordingly. Please RP your victory now!
  251. [18:50] What a terrifying monster this one was. Between the hellish magma and unbreakable obsidian it sprouted all around itself the group had no choice but to split the damage as a whole. His whole body felt like it was being battered and beaten with each passing second. The heat was getting to his head and the sharp stone fragments were cutting right through his nullifying magics, leaving the man with little to not defenses before the beast.
  252.  
  253. Getting so close with cost him, definitely.
  254.  
  255. Despite all of that, the Wayfinder aimed his attacks at a place that the beast could not stop him from reaching; one's mind was rather vulnerable to magic when protecting themselves this heavily. Through a trick of all of the horror's senses the old man forced it to run right into one of its sharp, obsidian crystals rather than himself— hopefully managing to pierce through its armor and end it then and there.
  256. (Ethan Hawke)
  257. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  258.  
  259. [18:53] Esso slips into rhythm as if he hasn't stopped fighting for years; real danger has a way of spurring on enough adrenaline to make up for one's shortcomings. He weaves in and out of combat, zipping in long enough to land a strike or few before backing out, and between that and the even more ferocious attacks the others were dealing, they manage to score at least a temporary reprieve, though not without injury.
  260.  
  261. One particular assault by the creature left him unable to dodge out of the way, and all he could do is raise his right hand to shield the blow, and his wrist is shattered for the exertion. He sucks in a deep breath once the adrenaline's died down and the pain starts in full force, sheathing his dagger and holding his wrist with his left hand as tenderly, yet firmly as he can to try to keep it in one piece.
  262. (Esso Invidia)
  263. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  264.  
  265. [18:55] ** Escaping Light [DM] has inflicted an injury upon Ethan Hawke. ("Obsidian Shards", "Lodged into Ethan Hawke's chest and muscles, some even in his bones - There are radiating shards of depraved obsidian that constantly pulse and utterly ruin his focus while Wayfinding. The obsidian is insanely corrupted, and comes from Hel itself. Ethan Hawke must struggle to not listen to the whispers from the now deceased Nethradin - As the shards are lodged into his body and mana stream.", "Temporary", "Duration: Long (12 days)") **
  266. [18:55] Her sword swung into empty air, a bolt of holy empowered lightning arcing from the tip of her blade at the apex of her swing. From there the battle was on, the obsidian horror finding itself initially outmatched by the diverse group.
  267.  
  268. The barrage of elements weakening it until with some sort of second wind it resurged against them, striking all of them low at one point or another... She did what she could to sustain her allies but it was difficult attempting to do so for such a large group.
  269.  
  270. Her shield raised the party assails the Nethradin one final time, all of them pressing it back with all they have.
  271.  
  272. With a final cry she blasted it with a surge of the Lifestream's raw energy, moments before Ethan seemed to confuse it and make it impale itself.
  273.  
  274. "Nethradin here.... Demons too... Spirits.."
  275.  
  276. Her blade is sheathed, though her shield remains on her arm. Extended senses once more released.
  277. (Elayna Taranis)
  278. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  279.  
  280. [18:58] It always placed things into perspective, when it took several fighters to put down a single monster. The horrors of Riftmancy were always a very real risk for Marceline, and this only served to prove that. To be careful whenever she needed to rip a portal from one location to another. But, it also served to prove another thing.
  281.  
  282. Just how much damage she could make if she really wanted to.
  283.  
  284. As that giant rift pulsated with corruption, it was easily to see herself. The art she wielded, taken to the absolute extreme. It was truly a powerful beast. Marceline danced on the edge between life and death as she dashed in and out of combat, dealing damage when she could. Although, it was Ethan who was able to take the final blow after Marceline froze it in place with ice magic.
  285.  
  286. Although, it wasn't without cost. She was injured as a result of her recklessness. She wasn't able to riftaway in time, appearing in the distance with a twisted ankle when her rift opened. It didn't hurt her functionality much, considering she was constantly flying. It hurt like a bitch though.
  287.  
  288. "UGH. Can we just close that thing already?"
  289. (Marceline)
  290. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  291.  
  292. [19:13] {NARRATION} The Nethradin rampaged and thrashed around. Obsidian and earth magic are bent to its very will, and the group soon finds themselves thrown back by its titanic strength. Obsidian is shot right through Ethan's chest, but not before the Hawke can trick it into running into one of its own crystals.
  293.  
  294. Its armor starts to shatter little by little.
  295.  
  296. Esso gets into a writim now, starting to bring his blade in and out at the armor. More and more has snapped. It begins to scream in pain.
  297.  
  298. Elayna would keep herself alive despite it trying to eat and swallow her intently. Elements slam into its body time and time again, and its armor has all but worn away. In various, massive chunks around the field... A blast of raw energy is fired from Elayna which starts to burn and sizzle its skin to a crisp.
  299.  
  300. It falls to the floor, but not without bringing up its massive wrists and slamming into the obsidian floor once more. The entire platform they were on starts to crack and crumble - And upon being opened, there seemed to be a cave system below the obsidian.
  301.  
  302. ... It started to suck all of them inwards, the Obsidian Nethradin now dying as it were as they fell rapidly towards whatever lay underneath the obsidian cap. One might wonder.. If the circle of black rock had been there for a reason, sealing something below.
  303.  
  304. The group now lands several hundred meters below from their fight, as the giant rift it had opened still screamed and whirled with energy from above. If they took a look around now, they could see small flares of magma and skeletons scattered about this pitfall. The trail forward...
  305.  
  306. Would lead to the heart of the volcano.
  307.  
  308. (A green, white, and black orb lay atop the corpse of the Obsidian Horror. Sealing the rift is optional.)
  309. [19:17] Of course, Marceline wouldn't attempt to close the rift herself. She'd complain about it, but she's keep her distance from the thing. She could at least recognize that it was a threat to them, but she didn't want to get hurt as a result of messing with it. Nope.
  310.  
  311. Though, the materials that dropped from the beast following their victory was something that made her intrigued. She floated towards one of the chunks obsidian and lifted it up with her entire body, tearing open a tiny rift of her own and storing it in her own pocket dimension.
  312.  
  313. That was, if no one else wanted it.
  314. (Marceline)
  315. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  316.  
  317. [19:19] The crashing thing broke the floor, and they all began to fall. Allowing herself to fall at speed until using her feeble gravity magic she arrests her motion gently landing softly on ethereal feet.
  318.  
  319. Magma and even more skeletons line the floor, as the only trail before them would take them into the volcano's heart...
  320.  
  321. "I suppose we found our way in."
  322.  
  323. She did her best to push through the dark power the thing had inflicted her with, to provide her extrasensory insights to their path ahead.
  324.  
  325. Her hand glows with holy mana, prepared to make a shield if need be, hopefully shields both physical and magical would do something.
  326. (Elayna Taranis)
  327. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  328.  
  329. [19:20] {NARRATION} Correction* There are two paths to the Heart. Left, or right.
  330. [19:21] The rough, long fall made Ethan realize what kind of danger they really were in when coming to this place. There was a reason that a man who was able to take down his entire crew had been overwhelmed by mere demons. This... wasn't a simple task. It wasn't guarded by some small nightmares, no. These rocks spoke to his mind, leaving him unable to properly catch his fall if it weren't for the fact the spirit living in his staff used Wayfinding for him - thank god.
  331.  
  332. A few breaths were taken before the old man looked around, assessing the situation and... fixating on the problem Elayna had spoken of first - long ago.
  333.  
  334. His right hand rose up, carrying this staff of his that had been used for many, many purposes before. Mending a rift had grown into being Ethan's true goal at this point. His hand gripped tightly onto the arcanium shaft, letting its fiery circuit light up before a brilliant green light erupted from the foci.
  335.  
  336. With a bit of difficulty and amongst some blood the Wayfinder reached into his pocket, pulling out a bunch of notes written down on a sheet. Under Rebirth's light he read them, them looked up to the open rift, aiming to mend the damage that had been done to the lifestream, bit by bit.
  337.  
  338. "Taiga, you can lend a hand, yeah?" He asked, still trying to heal the mend the wound in the fabric of the world.
  339. (Ethan Hawke)
  340. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  341.  
  342. [19:21] {Item} You drop Spiritual Healing.
  343. [19:22] {Item} You picked up Spiritual Healing. Dropped by Ethan Hawke. .
  344. [19:22] As the fight dies out, Taiga loudly grumbles-
  345.  
  346. "Damn it... I should've known better." The portal is taken into account now, and Taiga moves to action. Presumably with the help of Ethan, sealing up a single portal like this shouldn't be altogether too difficult a process. The Wayfinder takes into account the measurements and energy requirements - and begins sealing it.
  347.  
  348. "Marceline, I've not a clue as to how you've become so accustom to these wretched things. How do you handle the thought that at any moment you tear open the Lifestream one of those could come spilling out again?" He huffs!
  349.  
  350. The energy of the portal is overtaken by his own green mana, shifting and changing the portal's tear to a more amicable route through the Lifestream. The parameters set, he carefully manipulates the path set, changing it from Helheim to somewhere perhaps a little more helpful. He reaches through, pulling out young Siegfried.
  351.  
  352. "...Ugh, nevermind. Not worth starting an argument with you over." He had to keep his head clear. The annoyances were starting to pile up, one after another, but he couldn't let that get in the way of his focus at the task at hand. "...Let's keep moving."
  353. (Taiga Rowan)
  354. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  355.  
  356. [19:23] Taiga Rowan says, "Welcome."
  357. [19:23] While he is injured, he does still have instincts to fall back on, and one of those is to duck and roll as they fall through the floor into the caves below. He can already feel the heat, and his eyes narrow as he clutches his wrist closer to his stomach.
  358.  
  359. A brief glance around tells him that they were all still here, but it looks like everyone came out of that fight a little worse for wear.
  360. (Esso Invidia)
  361. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  362.  
  363. [19:23] Marceline says, "The Nethradin was obviously intentional. It's stupid to think 'one of these things' could come out every time someone opens their average rift."
  364. [19:24] Taiga Rowan says, "Enjoy your victory."
  365. [19:24] Taiga acts like he's permitting her to win an argument. What a son of a bitch.
  366. (Taiga Rowan)
  367. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  368.  
  369. [19:25] Marceline says, "Whoops, I accidentally opened up a rift the size of a building and caused a giant Nethradin to come through while I was trying to teleport somewhere! Yeah, no."
  370. [19:25] {NARRATION} With the work of two Wayfinders, little by little - The rift in the lifestream is settled in and stitched together like a wound.
  371.  
  372. .. Taiga also summons Siegfried onto this horrible, horrible island. Now - They had two paths in front of them. Left... Or right.
  373. [19:26] Esso Invidia says, "As far as I know, they can't open them, but they can expand them to get through."
  374. [19:26] Taiga Rowan asks, "...You were not busy, yes?"
  375. [19:26] Esso Invidia says, "So you wouldn't need to open one the size of a building."
  376. [19:26] Siegfried says, "'Course not."
  377. [19:27] Marceline says, "Esso, stop acting like you know what you're talking about."
  378. [19:27] Esso Invidia asks, "Am I wrong?"
  379. [19:27] Marceline says, "You don't leave them open for more than a few seconds, obviously."
  380. [19:28] Ethan Hawke says, "...."
  381. [19:28] Ethan Hawke asks, "Which path are we taking?"
  382. [19:28] Esso pinches the bridge of his nose, letting out a sigh.
  383. (Esso Invidia)
  384. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  385.  
  386. [19:28] ...Taiga just begins flying down the left path, motioning for Siegfried to follow.
  387. (Taiga Rowan)
  388. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  389.  
  390. [19:28] Ethan Hawke says, "Can you guys see something or- fee-"
  391. [19:28] Esso Invidia says, "Left it is."
  392. [19:28] Ethan Hawke says, "..."
  393. [19:28] Ethan Hawke says, "Left it is."
  394. [19:29] {NARRATION} Roll a D20. Everyone going left.
  395. [19:29] Siegfried dutifully falls into step, whistling a tune to tune out the bickering.
  396. (Siegfried)
  397. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  398.  
  399. [19:42] {NARRATION} The heat is disgusting. The longer they travel down this path, the hotter it becomes. It is insufferable, and even Obsidia's volcano pales in comparison to this one. A small flicker of gold can be seen ahead, to which Marceline immediately notices and recognizes as a door. She also begins to get a very bad feeling about the room in front of them. Elayna and Taiga have some foresight before enterring..
  400.  
  401. The party enters a room. A shimmering door sits in front of them with a golden lock fashioned to the side of it. It was huge, likely used to prevent magma from rushing through the entire volcano. But if it was here? Then someone absolutely had to have been here. Lived here, even.
  402.  
  403. ... To the right and left side of the room, there are chests. Six chests on each side of the room, each and every one of them is silver. A small table rests in the center of the room with twelve different silver keys. They are numbered, and the chests are numbered too.
  404.  
  405. Elayna and Taiga begin to feel bad about the room as well. Taiga moreso than Elayna. He'd seen something exactly like this once before. Something is far too serene and calm about this room. Marceline feels drawn to the chests #5 through 9.
  406.  
  407. Esso feels drawn to chests #8 through 10.
  408.  
  409. One through Twelve. That is all to be found in this path that the trail has lead them to.
  410. [19:45] "Mimics." Taiga blurts out hopefully before Marceline or any of the other rash party members have a chance to crack open their chests of choice! These 'treasure rooms' were very familiar to him by now.
  411.  
  412. "Careful - all of you. They can't really... see us, no, but they awaken the moment someone tries to open them." Taiga explains, a bead of sweat rolling down the side of his face. Burning his mana to keep himself properly ventilated was a pain in the ass, his reptilian circulatory system paying him no favors in this sweltering heat.
  413.  
  414. "Likelihood is only one of these chests actually has anything of value for us. The rest are just traps."
  415. (Taiga Rowan)
  416. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  417.  
  418. [19:45] The Spirit manages to push through, to feel beyond the dark cloud forced upon her senses. The chests lining the room sides, the keys, the room itself gave off a not-so-good vibe.
  419.  
  420. "Something is not right here... everyone be careful.."
  421.  
  422. The Holy magic on her hand intensifies, strengthening her shield should she need it.
  423.  
  424. Though it would seem the key to the lock ahead must be in one of these chests, unless there was another way to get through.
  425. (Elayna Taranis)
  426. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  427.  
  428. [19:45] Esso stalls for a moment once they're in the room, surveying it before he pays closer attention to the keys and the chests. He can't shake this feeling like they'd be better off if they checked out the middle chests of the right side. His hand reaches for the key to 8 before he stops, raising his head and furrowing his eyebrow at Taiga.
  429. (Esso Invidia)
  430. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  431.  
  432. [19:46] Esso Invidia asks, "What's a 'mimic'?"
  433. [19:46] Marceline felt a burst of focus for some reason, feeling all of the benefits of the natural 20. Her perception was incredible, immediately spotting out a door ahead just by seeing a flicker of gold. "That's a door." she spoke confidently, at which point they'd enter a room.
  434.  
  435. "And there's definitely a trap here." she said, speaking on her intuition of having a bad feeling about this. She floated up to the chests, crossing her arms and inspecting them closely. She stroked her chin, squinting. And then, she pointed from chests five to nine.
  436.  
  437. "It's one of these five." she said. Why was she so sure?
  438. (Marceline)
  439. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  440.  
  441. [19:46] Taiga Rowan says, "Monsters disgused as treasure chests."
  442. [19:47] Taiga Rowan says, "They transform and bite down if you try to open them."
  443. [19:47] Behind the others, the boy's attention is drifting, thinking of a place that he currently wasn't, and someone who wasn't here at the moment. His attention is drifting in and out of the current moment - a dangerous thing, to be sure, given the dark cloud and the intense heat, but...
  444.  
  445. As they come to that room, he makes no motion to really do anything.
  446.  
  447. For now, he just defaults to the judgment of the others. There's a toothpick in his mouth that he gnaws at, looking inbetween all of the chests. Not being blessed with any clarity on what happened here, he defaults to their experience.
  448. (Siegfried)
  449. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  450.  
  451. [19:47] Elayna Taranis says, "Hm... if there is any correlation."
  452. [19:47] Sizing up the room ahead wasn't something Ethan was too focused on. His mind was wobbly both from the use for mana and the wound he had taken. Wayfinding seemed... difficult to do, and he was more preoccupied with battling the whispers in his mind rather than looking at what was ahead. It's only when Taiga mentions Mimics that Ethan finally snaps, looking around and realizing the kind of place they were in.
  453.  
  454. He took a long look around the room, then down towards the keys that were set. Was that... a trap?
  455.  
  456. "What do you wanna do, then?"
  457. (Ethan Hawke)
  458. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  459.  
  460. [19:47] Elayna Taranis asks, "There were three orbs above... right?"
  461. [19:48] Elayna Taranis says, "The two in the Nethradin's shoulders, then the one Ethan had."
  462. [19:48] Elayna Taranis says, "Could be unrelated... but."
  463. [19:48] {NARRATION} Perception Check.
  464. [19:49] {NARRATION} The golden door has six components to it.
  465.  
  466. A golden lock, likely unlocked by a golden key.
  467. And five half-spheres dug into the door. A small crystal rests inside of the groove.
  468.  
  469. Green, Black, White, Blue, Yellow.
  470.  
  471. The twelve chests and twelve keys still rest ominously in the room. Not a noise can be heard.
  472. [19:53] Marceline floated up to the golden door. Since she was on a smaller scale than everyone else, she was able to hone in on the fine details of objects. A fae could really get a close look, which definitely contributed to how easily she was able to pick apart the mechanism just by looking at it.
  473.  
  474. "The door is locked. We probably need to find the right key in one of these chests." she explained, before peering down to the half spheres. "And, I guess something is supposed to go in these five grooves, too. The crystals, probably. But, they're different colors for some reason."
  475. (Marceline)
  476. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  477.  
  478. [19:54] Elayna Taranis asks, "Hmm... so what you're saying is... half of these chests may contain things we need?"
  479. [19:54] Ethan Hawke says, "..."
  480. [19:54] Ethan Hawke says, "... That first Nethradin. It had spheres on its body and the one in the middle of those black rocks."
  481. [19:54] Taiga Rowan says, "Ahuh..."
  482. [19:55] Ethan Hawke asks, "Do you think it has anything to do with them?"
  483. [19:55] Elayna Taranis says, "That, or theyre within these chests."
  484. [19:55] Ethan Hawke says, "Green, white, and black."
  485. [19:55] Elayna Taranis says, "One of the two."
  486. [19:55] Taiga Rowan says, "It's probably some process to divine the correct chests."
  487. [19:55] Marceline says, "Well."
  488. [19:55] Marceline says, "We saw a green stone already. And, we got two black ones."
  489. [19:56] Ethan Hawke says, "The Nethradin's armor had colored orbs, too-"
  490. [19:57] Ethan holds a hand up, aiming to quickly go and retrieve the aforementionned orbs from the deceased horror.
  491.  
  492. Hopefully he'd be fine traveling.
  493. (Ethan Hawke)
  494. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  495.  
  496. [19:58] {NARRATION} The orbs are with your party. (I fucking hope.)
  497.  
  498. You have a green orb, a black orb, and a white orb.
  499. [19:58] Ethan Hawke says, "..."
  500. [19:58] Ethan Hawke says, "Oh man, I forgot I put them in my inventory."
  501. [19:58] Marceline says, "Hold on."
  502. [19:59] Ethan opens the pause menu, selecting down the items sub-menu to go and pull out the orbs.
  503. (Ethan Hawke)
  504. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  505.  
  506. [19:59] Marceline says, "Oh."
  507. [19:59] Marceline says, "I heard that wrong."
  508. [20:00] Ethan Hawke says, "... Maybe the other path's got the other orbs."
  509. [20:00] Marceline says, "Anyway, we're missing a blue one and a yellow one."
  510. [20:00] Ethan Hawke asks, "What do the keys look like?"
  511. [20:00] Marceline says, "The lock is gold, so we obviously need a gold key."
  512. [20:00] Ethan Hawke says, "The smaller ones."
  513. [20:00] Ethan Hawke asks, "Do any of them got those orbs?"
  514. [20:00] Marceline says, "They're keys."
  515. [20:01] Ethan Hawke says, "Keys have patterns and colors and stuff, Marcie."
  516. [20:01] Marceline says, "They're all silver, and they're all keys."
  517. [20:02] Ethan looked towards the keys, then the chests. Then the Fae.
  518.  
  519. "You said these were traps - which ones, do you know?"
  520. (Ethan Hawke)
  521. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  522.  
  523. [20:02] Marceline says, "Beats me, but I'm feeling lucky about chests five through nine."
  524. [20:03] Ethan Hawke says, "... Five, six, seven, eight, nine."
  525. [20:03] Taiga Rowan says, "...Gotcha."
  526. [20:03] Ethan Hawke says, "That's five chests."
  527. [20:03] Ethan Hawke says, "We've got three orbs. Two of them might be already there."
  528. [20:03] Ethan Hawke asks, "So we gotta figure which ones -not- to open, yeah?"
  529. [20:05] Taiga just... saunters up to chest number seven.
  530.  
  531. "I think we've deliberated this enough." he turns, looking to the rest of the party. "I'm trusting you, Marceline." he grumbles and then aims to open chest number seven...!!!
  532. (Taiga Rowan)
  533. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  534.  
  535. [20:05] Esso Invidia says, "We're missing a gold key, a blue orb, and a yellow orb then."
  536. [20:05] {NARRATION} Chest Seven...
  537. [20:05] Taiga Rowan says, "Be ready to beat the shit out of this chest."
  538. [20:05] {NARRATION} .. It slowly opens..
  539. [20:05] Taiga Rowan says, "Just fucking WAIL on it."
  540. [20:05] {NARRATION} .. Nothing.
  541. [20:05] Ethan Hawke says, "..."
  542. [20:05] Taiga beats the shit out of the chest anyway.
  543. (Taiga Rowan)
  544. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  545.  
  546. [20:05] Esso Invidia asks, "Empty is better than trap, right?"
  547. [20:05] {NARRATION} The Chest is defeated!
  548. (+100EXP)
  549. [20:05] Marceline says, "Esso is right."
  550. [20:05] Taiga Rowan says, "It- *STOMP* depends- *STOMP* on your way of--"
  551. [20:05] Taiga picks it up and throws it against a wall
  552. (Taiga Rowan)
  553. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  554.  
  555. [20:05] Ethan Hawke says, "Taiga."
  556. [20:05] Taiga Rowan says, "THINKING."
  557. [20:05] Ethan Hawke says, "T-"
  558. [20:05] Ethan Hawke says, "Taiga."
  559. [20:05] Ethan Hawke says, "..."
  560. [20:05] Taiga Rowan asks, "...Yes?"
  561. [20:05] Ethan Hawke says, "Taiga."
  562. [20:06] Siegfried says, "It's already dead, Taiga."
  563. [20:06] Ethan Hawke asks, "What about the next one?"
  564. [20:06] Siegfried says, "You can stop."
  565. [20:06] Marceline says, ".. Do it again."
  566. [20:06] Taiga Rowan says, "...Someone else pick."
  567. [20:06] {NARRATION} 1 - 6
  568. 8 - 12.
  569. [20:07] Ethan Hawke asks, "Five through nine, yeah?"
  570. [20:07] Marceline says, "Yeah."
  571. [20:07] Taiga Rowan says, "Let that chest serve as warning to all these mimics that their days are numbered."
  572. [20:08] Siegfried says, "You have to give every chest a chance. You can't just judge them based on how they look."
  573. [20:08] Taiga Rowan says, "Siegfried."
  574. [20:09] Taiga Rowan says, "You have volunteered."
  575. [20:09] Taiga Rowan says, "Please, open a chest."
  576. [20:09] Taiga pushes Siegfried forward a little.
  577. (Taiga Rowan)
  578. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  579.  
  580. [20:09] Siegfried says, "I-"
  581. [20:09] Siegfried says, "Don't wanna."
  582. [20:09] Taiga Rowan says, "Ah, but you must give them a chance."
  583. [20:09] Siegfried says, "Infact, no, I will say."
  584. [20:10] There's a frown, and he stays put.
  585. (Siegfried)
  586. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  587.  
  588. [20:10] Taiga Rowan asks, "...?"
  589. [20:10] "Alright, Sixfried." Ethan said, moving forth for chest number six and...
  590.  
  591. ... please god don't be a monster.
  592. (Ethan Hawke)
  593. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  594.  
  595. [20:10] Taiga Rowan asks, "Sixfried...??"
  596. [20:10] {NARRATION} Chest Six...
  597. [20:11] {NARRATION} ... It opens slowly...
  598. [20:11] Taiga already has his sword ready.
  599. (Taiga Rowan)
  600. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  601.  
  602. [20:11] {NARRATION} ... A golden key dangles from the roof of the chest.
  603. [20:11] Taiga Rowan says, "Oh."
  604. [20:11] Ethan Hawke says, "...."
  605. [20:11] Taiga Rowan exclaims, "Lovely!"
  606. [20:11] Taiga Rowan says, "Check for teeth."
  607. [20:11] Taiga Rowan asks, "Perhaps a tongue?"
  608. [20:11] Ethan Hawke says, "I'm not putting my hand in there."
  609. [20:11] Marceline says, "Oh God, it hurts."
  610. [20:11] Marceline says, "My brain is too big."
  611. [20:11] Ethan stepped back.
  612. (Ethan Hawke)
  613. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  614.  
  615. [20:11] Taiga Rowan says, "Siegfried."
  616. [20:11] Ethan Hawke says, "Marceline, just bring the key."
  617. [20:11] Taiga glares.
  618. (Taiga Rowan)
  619. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  620.  
  621. [20:11] Siegfried says, "I get it, Taiga, you're racist."
  622. [20:11] Ethan Hawke says, "Only the key."
  623. [20:11] Taiga Rowan exclaims, "Yes, I am!"
  624. [20:11] Taiga Rowan exclaims, "Incredibly so!"
  625. [20:11] Siegfried asks, "What're you going to do, next, show me mimic statistics?"
  626. [20:11] Ethan Hawke says, "Move the mimic through a rift and cut it off at the key-"
  627. [20:11] Ethan Hawke says, "Chest."
  628. [20:11] Ethan Hawke says, "..."
  629. [20:11] Ethan Hawke says, ".... Mimic."
  630. [20:11] Taiga Rowan says, "I am VERY racist to mimics, demons, nethradins and vampires."
  631. [20:12] Taiga Rowan says, "Anything that fucking annihilates the general area it occupies? I hate."
  632. [20:12] Esso Invidia says, "Someone just shoot it."
  633. [20:13] Marceline grasped Indignation and heeded Ethan's advice, decisively bringing the staff down as she invoked chaos magic. A rift was torn open beneath the chest, and closed halfway. This caused the lower half of the chest to be discarded in the corner of the room, and the upper half with the key to remain there.
  634.  
  635. If that was a mimic, they were being painfully split in half..
  636. (Marceline)
  637. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  638.  
  639. [20:14] {NARRATION} The chest explodes. No mimic. The key is in Marceline's hand now.
  640. [20:14] Taiga Rowan says, "Fantastic."
  641. [20:14] Marceline says, "Wow, it had explosives in it."
  642. [20:14] Taiga Rowan says, "Now then."
  643. [20:15] Taiga Rowan says, "Let us... continue."
  644. [20:15] Marceline says, "My intuition tells me that we should have all five orbs BEFORE we turn the key on this door. I don't know."
  645. [20:15] Taiga Rowan asks, "Suppose we require the rest of those orbs?"
  646. [20:16] Ethan Hawke asks, "Do you think they're in this room or on the other path?"
  647. [20:16] Elayna Taranis says, "Hm..."
  648. [20:16] Taiga Rowan says, "We have yet to see a chest contain an orb."
  649. [20:16] Taiga Rowan says, "But we've only opened two."
  650. [20:17] Marceline asks, "I don't know. If we have to open another chest, can we make the person who's ALREADY DEAD do it?"
  651. [20:17] Ethan Hawke asks, "How about number five, then?"
  652. [20:17] Taiga just sort of... skulks on over to chest number five, already starting to regret his decisions in life more-so than usual. He aims to poke it with the tip of his sword before anything else.
  653. (Taiga Rowan)
  654. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  655.  
  656. [20:17] {NARRATION} Chest Five...
  657. [20:17] {NARRATION} ... It is poked.
  658. [20:17] Taiga Rowan says, "Hm."
  659. [20:17] Taiga takes a step back, holding his blade over his head.
  660. (Taiga Rowan)
  661. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  662.  
  663. [20:17] Ethan Hawke says, "..."
  664. [20:18] Ethan Hawke says, "Wait-"
  665. [20:18] Ethan Hawke exclaims, "Taiga!"
  666. [20:18] Marceline exclaims, "Get a running start!"
  667. [20:18] Taiga Rowan asks, "...Yes?"
  668. [20:18] Ethan Hawke says, "... Use two hands. It makes your swings stronger."
  669. [20:18] Elayna Taranis says, "--"
  670. [20:18] Taiga nods. He adjusts his grip.
  671. (Taiga Rowan)
  672. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  673.  
  674. [20:18] Siegfried says, "Don't forget to yell really loud."
  675. [20:18] Siegfried says, "That helps too."
  676. [20:18] Taiga SWINGS.
  677. (Taiga Rowan)
  678. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  679.  
  680. [20:19] {NARRATION} Chest Five blows up into shards!
  681.  
  682. ... Nothing.
  683. [20:19] Taiga Rowan says, "That felt cathartic."
  684. [20:19] Esso Invidia asks, "What if there was an orb in there and we broke it?"
  685. [20:19] {NARRATION} 5, 7, 6 Dead
  686. [20:21] It was her turn to try one of these, stepping forward to what would be the third chest she looks it over warily. Feeling with the senses she has been all along, looking for anything off though it was likely pointless.
  687.  
  688. She readies her own sword.
  689. (Elayna Taranis)
  690. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  691.  
  692. [20:22] Taiga Rowan says, "Well."
  693. [20:22] Taiga Rowan says, "Go ahead."
  694. [20:22] Marceline says, "This feels like a good way to break the treasure."
  695. [20:23] Taiga Rowan asks, "If they made their prized orbs out of something so fragile it shatters from a single strike, what good is it?"
  696. [20:23] Marceline says, "Because we need them to open the door, you idiot."
  697. [20:23] Esso Invidia says, "If they went to the time to hide them in chests like this when there's such an easy way to cut the knot, making them strong enough to withstand atttacks seems like a terrible idea."
  698. [20:23] {NARRATION} Chest Three...
  699.  
  700. Nothing seems about it.
  701. [20:24] Taiga Rowan says, "Well I suppose we'll be able to tell if we see any colored shards amongst the wood and steel."
  702. [20:24] Holy mana charged in her hand flows into her shield, a wide wall of light forming. The Lifestream's energy rushes forth in a great wave combined with her Holy magic, the goal to blow the top off of the chest the Lifestream flooding anything that could be soothed with an intense peace.
  703.  
  704. If something non-affected emerged a shield of both physical and magical proportions was ready.
  705. (Elayna Taranis)
  706. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  707.  
  708. [20:24] {NARRATION} Chest Three is forcibly opened.. Something rattles and clanks against the edges after the blast.
  709. [20:24] {NARRATION} A blue orb.
  710. [20:24] Ethan Hawke says, "-"
  711. [20:24] Ethan Hawke says, "..."
  712. [20:24] Taiga Rowan says, "That confirms it, then."
  713. [20:24] Taiga Rowan says, "There are orbs."
  714. [20:25] Ethan Hawke says, "We just need one more, then."
  715. [20:25] Esso Invidia says, "Now we just need a yellow one."
  716. [20:25] Elayna floats it out with a small amount of gravity magic, pushing it away from the chest with the tip of her blade.
  717. (Elayna Taranis)
  718. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  719.  
  720. [20:25] Marceline asks, "Hey, Esso. You were trying to open chest eight earlier. Why don't you go ahead and do it now?"
  721. [20:26] Esso Invidia says, "At this point, it seems like Chest 4 is a better option considering all the ones around it were safe."
  722. [20:26] Esso Invidia says, "Unless that's the trap.."
  723. [20:26] Esso Invidia asks, "Chest four or eight?"
  724. [20:29] Esso turns towards Chest eight. That was the one he had a good feeling about, but seeing Marceline be right shook his confidence a little. Opting on the safe side, electrical sparks run up and down his arms before he throws his hands forward, releasing an arc of electricity at chest eight.
  725. (Esso Invidia)
  726. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  727.  
  728. [20:32] {NARRATION} [ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZxMwAL9wp_A ]
  729.  
  730. When lightning hits the chest, it starts to bubble and roar! The chest disguise that it wore immediately wears off! The black sludge that the mimic is known for starts to grow and grow and grow until it was twelve feet tall! Razor sharp teeth and tentacles can be seen sprouting from it!
  731.  
  732. A sludgy feeling goes throughout the room once more as it blitzes forward! It's entire intent was to devour Esso alive! Two tongues sprout from the top of its head as it ran forward.
  733.  
  734. A being this chaotic.. It was a Nethradin. No doubt about it.
  735. [20:33] Taiga Rowan says, "AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH"
  736. [20:34] The mimic attacked! Ethan's eyes grew wide, his staff was pulled from behind his back!
  737.  
  738. Attack
  739. >Special
  740. Item
  741. Run
  742.  
  743. The Wayfinder engaged forth, sending out a blast of fire!
  744. (Ethan Hawke)
  745. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  746.  
  747. [20:34] Taiga just goes apeshit wild. Howling loudly, the shadows around him all bristling and spiking at once, blood surging through his veins as he charges forward to be the first in line to beat this things ass. He was gonna GET SOME.
  748. (Taiga Rowan)
  749. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  750.  
  751. [20:34] The moment the chest transformed lightning was flying, striking at the two tonged thing as the rest of her magic came to bear.
  752.  
  753. Bad box.
  754. (Elayna Taranis)
  755. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  756.  
  757. [20:35] Siegfried yelps, barks, screeches, freaks, and geeks. That chest had just turned into a fucking monster.
  758.  
  759. They'd warned him of this, but no one had actually explained.
  760.  
  761. Energy fizzles to life around him, bright and vibrant, and he cocks back his hands before firing a burst of a energy at it almost instinctually, nearly damn wetting himself.
  762.  
  763. "OH FUCK!"
  764. (Siegfried)
  765. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  766.  
  767. [20:35] ".. Well, I guess you can only be right so often." Marceline commented, reaching for her weapon. A tiny rift was opened to her own pocket dimension, which spilled out a tiny fairy potion that she quickly drank in preparation for the fight.
  768.  
  769. Attack
  770. Special
  771. >Item
  772. Run
  773.  
  774. MARCELINE has used LAX ESSENCE!
  775. (Marceline)
  776. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  777.  
  778. [20:35] {NARRATION} Please use /vit for me now.
  779. [20:37] Well, that was worse than he expected. Regardless, there's only one thing to do here.
  780.  
  781. Attack
  782. Special
  783. Item
  784. >Run
  785.  
  786. His dagger is drawn and he leaps into the fray, keeping his distance where he can while the creature chases him down. Fortunately for him, he's one of the fastest men alive.
  787. (Esso Invidia)
  788. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  789.  
  790. [20:39] {NARRATION} Optional:
  791. Esso, you may choose to roll a D20 right now. You do not have to.
  792. If you roll above 11, the boss loses 100 vit. If you roll below 12, the boss gains 100 vit.
  793.  
  794. Yes, or no?
  795. [20:42] {NARRATION} If the party has a collective total of 8 or more KOs across the group, injuries suffered at the end are DOUBLED.
  796. [20:48] {NARRATION} KOs:
  797. - - - - - - -
  798. Taiga: 1
  799. Esso: 1
  800. - - - - - -
  801. Taiga double KO'd it, so... Roll a D6 !
  802. [20:49] {NARRATION} Esso: 4 Day Temp
  803. Taiga: 1 Day Temp
  804. [20:49] {NARRATION} You may RP your victory.
  805. [20:52] What a scary beast. The group definitely had to be more careful with which chests they'd open - those were bad, bad news. They couldn't just blindly open any more of the others, either. Amongsts the hits and the spells the group seemed to pull things off pretty well, fortunately enough.
  806.  
  807. As Taiga went on to defeat his nemesis the old man took some time to look around the room, investigating the keys and the remaining chests to see if any of them would have a clue of sorts.
  808.  
  809. They couldn't afford another fight like this.
  810. (Ethan Hawke)
  811. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  812.  
  813. [20:52] The box was a bit tougher than its non-living counterparts even managing to knock down a few of them... though in the end it was destroyed by the one who likely hated it the most.
  814.  
  815. Taiga, even as it knocked him down.
  816. (Elayna Taranis)
  817. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  818.  
  819. [20:54] Esso was right to be cautious, but he just wasn't quick enough. With the beast flailing around the room at its size, it was only a matter of time before it caught him in one way or another. He avoided the teeth, but not it slamming into him and cracking his shoulder. He spends more than a little time on the ground after the fight ends before finally pulling himself to his feet with his left hand; his right arm hangs limply.
  820. (Esso Invidia)
  821. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  822.  
  823. [20:55] Esso Invidia says, "I think that's all the fight I've got."
  824. [20:55] Taiga gets needlessly overzealous. In his rush to tear down that which he despised, he obviously takes few unnecessary risks. Vicious in his attacks, he aims to tear this Nethradin chest mimic bullshit to pieces before anyone else has a chance.
  825.  
  826. With a final thunderous roar, he grabs the mimic by the jaws, holding it open even as its fetid tongue slathers against him. His boot SLAMS down, knocking out one of its teeth as he forces himself inside- and then begins to rip it open by forcing its jaws to crack at the seams.
  827.  
  828. With an uncomfortable crunch, Taiga emerges victorious.
  829. (Taiga Rowan)
  830. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  831.  
  832. [20:55] Marceline escaped that fight relatively unscathed, surprisingly. Perhaps it was due to the stroke of luck Esso had in his initial encounter. Taiga took the chest down due to his extreme hate for mimics, but she was able to deal some considerable damage.
  833.  
  834. ".. This thing better have an orb, or I'm going to be mad."
  835. (Marceline)
  836. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  837.  
  838. [20:57] Siegfried mostly just played back-up. Remaining on the defensive, reacting when struck at, guarding and playing evasively. Taiga and Esso hacked it at like madmen, and their backline was nuking, and generally, they functioned like a traditional party, in many respects, if not a bit oversized.
  839.  
  840. Darting through the piece with his bare hands and flooring it in the goddamn jaw left him with a hefty wound in the form of a bite that hurts too goddamn much for comfort, tearing his pants leg apart, but it goes down shortly afterward, with the absolute ape Taiga Rowan double-KOing it.
  841.  
  842. "Me hate chests now too."
  843. (Siegfried)
  844. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  845.  
  846. [20:58] Vicious Mimic whispers something.
  847. [20:59] Taiga huffs, reaching down inside the dead mimic to rip out an orb stuck beneath its big weird tongue thing! It's yellow.
  848. (Taiga Rowan)
  849. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  850.  
  851. [21:00] Taiga Rowan says, "...One moment."
  852. [21:00] Taiga slaps the slobbery, disgusting yellow orb into Siegfried's hand.
  853. (Taiga Rowan)
  854. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  855.  
  856. [21:01] Ethan Hawke says, "..."
  857. [21:01] Esso Invidia says, "I guess eight was the right call after all."
  858. [21:01] Siegfried is left with mimic drool and gross, thick saliva coating his hand.
  859.  
  860. His face:
  861.  
  862. https://magazine.happeningsmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/gary-coleman.png
  863. (Siegfried)
  864. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  865.  
  866. [21:02] Siegfried says, "...thanks, Taiga."
  867. [21:02] {Item} You picked up Lax Essence. Dropped by Taiga Rowan. .
  868. [21:02] {NARRATION} After eating the lax and healing, use /vit.
  869.  
  870. I need to know who is close to death etc.
  871. [21:02] She had noted Esso's earlier injury, along with taking a mental log of all of their injuries. It was sort of her job as the resident doctor after all.
  872.  
  873.  
  874. Once he fell again and she heard breaking bones, as soon as the fight was over she rushed over. Scanning his body with the Lifestream's energy she focuses on one of the two broken bones.. it is all her power would allow if she were to keep fighting on.
  875.  
  876. Holy magic pours into his wrist, the pain fading instantly as the bones are slowly re-knitted, as if never broken.
  877. (Elayna Taranis)
  878. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  879.  
  880. [21:03] {NARRATION} (Loot from the mimic. My bad.)
  881. [21:04] Marceline picked up a piece of Arcanium. And some money.
  882. (Marceline)
  883. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  884.  
  885. [21:04] Ethan takes Taiga's Garnier intensive 7 days shea body lotion for dry skin, applying it upon his wounded torso for a fresh feeling and a rejuvenated skin. Incredible. A small lunchbox is passed off in Elayna's direction, one containing the best fried eggs she had ever tasted.
  886. (Ethan Hawke)
  887. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  888.  
  889. [21:04] {Item} You drop Fried Eggs.
  890. [21:04] Siegfried takes nothing, not really having any interest in worldly things(even though he should.) The boy remains where he stands, eyes admiring that which had dropped for them all to collect, marveling at how nice some of it looked, but not actually moving from his spot.
  891.  
  892. He hums.
  893. (Siegfried)
  894. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  895.  
  896. [21:04] Marceline says, "Wait."
  897. [21:04] Marceline says, "Don't eat those."
  898. [21:05] Esso's in the process of trying to set his shoulder when Elayna rushes over and applies her magic in a way he hadn't expected; she takes his hand and after a familiar glow, he feels some semblance of life in it once more. It's still mostly numb because of his shoulder injury, but he's still a great deal better off now than he was moments ago.
  899.  
  900. He offers her a brief nod and a smile.
  901. (Esso Invidia)
  902. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  903.  
  904. [21:05] Esso Invidia says, "Thank you."
  905. [21:05] Taiga Rowan asks, "...?"
  906. [21:05] {Item} Picked up a bag of 1000 dropped by Escaping Light [DM].
  907. [21:06] Esso glances briefly at the other treasures that spilled out of the mimic and he chuckles briefly, letting the others take what they want.
  908. (Esso Invidia)
  909. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  910.  
  911. [21:06] {NARRATION} The group now holds a golden key, and five multi colored orbs.
  912. Black, White, Green, Yellow, Blue.
  913.  
  914. The crystals inside of the orb-shaped grooves in the golden door match those colors respectively.
  915. [21:07] Taiga Rowan exclaims, "Well then!"
  916. [21:07] Taiga Rowan says, "Now that this fucking..."
  917. [21:08] Taiga Rowan says, "Wretched... abomination of a room is complete."
  918. [21:08] Taiga Rowan exclaims, "We may progress!"
  919. [21:08] Esso Invidia asks, "Don't wanna destroy the rest of the chests for good measure?"
  920. [21:08] Esso laughs aloud.
  921. (Esso Invidia)
  922. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  923.  
  924. [21:08] Escaping Light [DM] says, "please do"
  925. [21:08] Escaping Light [DM] says, "please hit more chests"
  926. [21:08] Taiga Rowan says, "It would satisfy mine own desire, but I have a feeling we'd only draw more mimics to play."
  927. [21:09] Taiga Rowan says, "Come, now."
  928. [21:09] Taiga saunters on back towards the bigass door that they had faced before. He gestures towards it! "Whomever has the key, please, step forth." He calls!
  929. (Taiga Rowan)
  930. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  931.  
  932. [21:09] Taiga Rowan says, "I... already forgot in my blinding rage against that beast."
  933. [21:09] A rift appeared over Taiga's head, causing a big ass golden key to fall right on his noggin.
  934. (Marceline)
  935. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  936.  
  937. [21:10] Taiga tries to dodge, but fails.
  938. (Taiga Rowan)
  939. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  940.  
  941. [21:10] Taiga Rowan says, "--"
  942. [21:10] Taiga Rowan exclaims, "...Stop wasting your mana!"
  943. [21:10] Taiga Rowan exclaims, "Guh!"
  944. [21:10] Taiga swipes the key off the floor now, and JAMS it in the lock! He turns it, grumbling.
  945. (Taiga Rowan)
  946. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  947.  
  948. [21:10] zoom
  949. (Esso Invidia)
  950. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  951.  
  952. [21:10] Elayna floats the blue orb over with sublte manipulation of gravity.
  953. (Elayna Taranis)
  954. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  955.  
  956. [21:10] Marceline says, "Arcane magic doesn't use mana, it uses willpower."
  957. [21:10] Ethan Hawke asks, "... Do the orbs fit in those holes?"
  958. [21:11] Escaping Light [DM] says, "did"
  959. [21:11] Marceline says, "I had the will to hit you on the head."
  960. [21:11] Taiga jams the key in, huffing and being all frustrated! Before he can potentially ruin the puzzle, the party has a chance to yell at him or something.
  961. (Taiga Rowan)
  962. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  963.  
  964. [21:12] Marceline exclaims, "Put the orbs in first!"
  965. [21:12] Taiga Rowan says, "--"
  966. [21:12] Ethan Hawke exclaims, "Yeah, Taiga, the orbs!"
  967. [21:12] Esso Invidia asks, "The orbs?"
  968. [21:12] Marceline asks, "Jeeze, what did we do this entire freaking puzzle for?"
  969. [21:12] Knowing how hasty Taiga was, and also because he was young and impatient, Siegfried raises the yellow orb to the yellow hole. Somewhat cautious, however, he doesn't just jam that shit in there.
  970.  
  971. "Orbs match colors," he says like caveman. Ooh ooh ah ah ah. "Then turn."
  972. (Siegfried)
  973. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  974.  
  975. [21:12] Taiga's shoulders bristle and he stops! Grumbling even louder now! Someone was starting to get in a bad mood.
  976. (Taiga Rowan)
  977. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  978.  
  979. [21:13] Taiga Rowan says, "Right, right."
  980. [21:13] Ethan nods at Siegfried's statement.
  981.  
  982. Apes together smart.
  983. (Ethan Hawke)
  984. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  985.  
  986. [21:13] Marceline asks, "Did Siegfried hit his head or something?"
  987. [21:13] Elayna pokes the blue one in.
  988. (Elayna Taranis)
  989. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  990.  
  991. [21:14] {NARRATION} It lights up. Bright blue.
  992. [21:14] Taiga Rowan says, "Go ahead, press it in."
  993. [21:14] Elayna steps back.
  994. (Elayna Taranis)
  995. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  996.  
  997. [21:14] Ethan puts in the green one. It seemed fitting.
  998. (Ethan Hawke)
  999. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1000.  
  1001. [21:14] {NARRATION} Same thing happens. Emerald.
  1002. [21:15] Siegfried puts the yellow one in the yellow hole. Almost matches his eyes, y'know.
  1003. (Siegfried)
  1004. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1005.  
  1006. [21:15] Taiga turns the key AFTER all this.
  1007. (Taiga Rowan)
  1008. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1009.  
  1010. [21:15] {NARRATION} Topaz, kind of. Black and white crystals remained unglowing.
  1011. [21:15] Ethan Hawke says, "Come on, put in the other ones."
  1012. [21:15] Ethan Hawke says, "Esso, Marcie."
  1013. [21:15] Esso glances down at the white orb before slotting it in.
  1014. (Esso Invidia)
  1015. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1016.  
  1017. [21:15] Marceline put in whatever orb she possessed at this point, the writer forgot.
  1018. (Marceline)
  1019. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1020.  
  1021. [21:17] {NARRATION} At long last - The door clicks open and all of the orbs are slotted in. The orbs drop from the door now, slightly glowing and charged with a small amount of energy. The golden door swings open!
  1022.  
  1023. ... and they are all met with an absurd blast of heat. Looking directly forward, lava quite literally pours from holes in the ceiling and bubbles around in massive ponds surrounding a very, very small stone bridge.
  1024.  
  1025. ... The heat from the magma created powerful winds. Winds that might knock someone into the mess below.
  1026. [21:20] The heat that washed over him was both good and bad. It felt like they were getting closer to the goal, but at the same time, it felt like they were about to have a real, real bad time. This long, small bridge wasn't something Ethan felt like crossing at all. This was way, way too dangerous.
  1027.  
  1028. He looked across, squinting to see if he could spot the other end.
  1029. (Ethan Hawke)
  1030. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1031.  
  1032. [21:21] She had her own way of possibly passing over it, though she would not be able to care for another's passing, instead she watches for a moment. To see if other suggestions come into play.
  1033. (Elayna Taranis)
  1034. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1035.  
  1036. [21:21] "ALLLRIGHT-" Taiga is the first one to open the door and probably the first one to take a step back from it. Extreme temperature was one of his weakpoints, you see. The circulatory system running through his body just didn't take well to regulating its own temperature, so getting this close to lava (quite literally) threatened to make his blood boil. A bit of mana to cool himself down was necessary, but he'd rather not be expending mana so frivolously!
  1037.  
  1038. He whines aloud- "...I'd prefer to Wayfind across that, if at all possible. The last time I attempted to cross a tiny little bridge over a pit of lava..." He shudders at the thought.
  1039. (Taiga Rowan)
  1040. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1041.  
  1042. [21:21] Marceline raised her arms in front of her face reflexively as she was met with a blast of heat, nearly knocked out of the air. "Ahhh!" she exclaimed, subsequently raising an aquatic aura to protect herself. Talk about a jumpscare.
  1043.  
  1044. ".. I wouldn't step on that bridge." Marceline advised, reaching for her weapon. It looked too dangerous. This is where the convenient art of Riftmancy came in handy. "I'll take us across." she suggested.
  1045. (Marceline)
  1046. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1047.  
  1048. [21:23] Siegfried actually damn-near screams, again.
  1049.  
  1050. He digs his feet into the ground in the wake of the tumultuous winds that threaten them with certain peril, covering his eyes, too. Afterward, he slowly begins to hunker forward with the others, but stays slightly behind Taiga and Ethan, however far they went.
  1051.  
  1052. Silently, his head nods up and down at the notion of warping across, because...fuck that.
  1053. (Siegfried)
  1054. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1055.  
  1056. [21:24] Considering how much time he'd spent around a volcano lately, he'd acclimated to the heat. This though, this is on a whole new level.
  1057.  
  1058. He shuffles along, sticking close to Ethan for the time being. Among those present, he'd known Ethan the longest, and if worst comes to worst, it'd be good to have each other's backs.
  1059.  
  1060. "I don't suppose anyone here's a wind magi who can counter these blasts of hot air?"
  1061. (Esso Invidia)
  1062. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1063.  
  1064. [21:25] Esso Invidia says, "It scalding us is bad enough, but if it pushes us over.."
  1065. [21:26] {NARRATION} Wayfinding works, though it'll be weaker than Rift.
  1066. Walking on the bridge works.. Very dangerous.
  1067. Rift Magic will absolutely work.. Somewhat dangerous.
  1068. Flying absolutely does not work.
  1069. (How does the party plan to tackle this obstacle?)
  1070. [21:29] "The lifestream is weak here. It'll be a breeze." Marceline commented. She fully intended to take advantage of the fact that this place was corrupted to shit, her fingers tightening around her weapon. Pretty much everyone in attendance would probably have a problem with her kicking the natural order while it was down, but who could argue with results?
  1071.  
  1072. Marceline plowed through the already weak lifestream as she invoked chaos magic, easily tearing open a rift between the two positions. A portal appeared near them, and then on the other side of the bridge.
  1073. (Marceline)
  1074. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1075.  
  1076. [21:29] {NARRATION} Marceline and 3 others may go with her. Safely.
  1077. [21:30] Marceline says, ".. Only big enough for four of us, though. So, I'm leaving the wayfinders behind. You guys can teleport yourself."
  1078. [21:30] Siegfried kind of strolls into the rift, expecting everyone to be right behind them.
  1079. (Siegfried)
  1080. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1081.  
  1082. [21:31] Ethan looks at Taiga for a moment. He felt like only a few of them would be able to pass - leaving one of them (at least) to remain.
  1083.  
  1084. Although...
  1085.  
  1086. "Let's work with eachother, yeah?"
  1087. (Ethan Hawke)
  1088. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1089.  
  1090. [21:31] Marceline would enter the rift and close it whenever three others went through, finding it dangerous to keep it open for any longer in a place like this.
  1091. (Marceline)
  1092. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1093.  
  1094. [21:31] Taiga rolls his eyes! After Marceline and company cross, he turns his attention to Ethan. With a nod, he sets to work! With the both of their efforts combined, hopefully the two masters of their craft could forge a single working portal to save their lvies.
  1095. (Taiga Rowan)
  1096. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1097.  
  1098. [21:32] Esso slips through with the fae, Sieg, Marceline, and the spirit after Ethan nods for them to go ahead.
  1099. (Esso Invidia)
  1100. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1101.  
  1102. [21:32] {NARRATION} Both of you Wayfinders. Roll a D20. Your total added together decides your fate...
  1103. [21:34] Ethan looked at the other man for a few seconds. This was do or die, wasn't it? The man wasn't going to just go for it without a bit of preparation - especially when Marceline had just used Riftmancy. A few moments were used to mend the damage she had made before his staff was held up high. The spirit within and the runes etched onto the foci all worked together in harmony. Six Wayfinding circles all glowing with a vast rainbow, everchanging color allowed themselves to be felt; divine magic washed over the area for a moment before the old man finally cast forth those circles - hoping to coordinate perfectly with his student.
  1104. (Ethan Hawke)
  1105. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1106.  
  1107. [21:35] {NARRATION} I need you both to roll a D6.
  1108. [21:35] She did not like this, not in the slightest. Though she would do what she must, and pay a greater penance on the other side.
  1109.  
  1110. She could feel the Chaos, easily rending the already weakened Lifestream of the area.
  1111.  
  1112. She steps through, feeling the intense pain of what was being damaged... though once on the other side tears being shed once more...
  1113.  
  1114. The Spirit's aura flared intensely, eyes taking on that golden-white color in entirety.
  1115.  
  1116. A piece of herself is taken, her own vitality, to repair what they had damaged and to heal it a bit further. A debt paid with interest at the cost of her life possibly.
  1117.  
  1118. (Self-imposed -10 vit for event duration /powerdown)
  1119.  
  1120. (If DM allows and does neat narrate, please DM?)
  1121. (Elayna Taranis)
  1122. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1123.  
  1124. [21:37] {NARRATION} Elayna can take a 12 Day Temporary to give A LOT of her energy for a safe path, auto succeeding both Ethan and Taiga. Or they can both take a 4 Day Temporary injury.
  1125.  
  1126. Decide.
  1127. [21:38] {Item} You drop Elixir Of Healing.
  1128. [21:38] {Item} You picked up Elixir Of Healing. Dropped by Ethan Hawke. .
  1129. [21:44] {NARRATION} Elayna gives a mass amount of her own inner energies - And her own attunement to the stream of life. All of this energy pours into the area, the lifestream itself as wounded and busted as it was, starts to repair in few places. Esso's senses were no longer screaming at him.
  1130.  
  1131. ... But Elayna comes out of this far, far weaker than before. When Ethan and Taiga go to Wayfind forward, they pass through the passages that were already fixed and corrected through the spirit's aid...
  1132.  
  1133. Everyone is now on the other side of the boiling lava.
  1134. [21:46] Upon arriving to the other side Ethan quickly notices the woman's... sacrifice. It wasn't hard to notice, either, she was the only one here that could've stabilized the lifestream during their advance. The old man pulled out a small flask - a potion he had carried on his for a long, long time. Back when Zeriel was alive, even. Twenty years.
  1135.  
  1136. He offered it to the spirit, alongside a smile.
  1137. (Ethan Hawke)
  1138. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1139.  
  1140. [21:46] {Item} You drop Elixir Of Healing.
  1141. [21:50] She could not drink, but she had discovered long ago another method of these things. It wasn't so much the liquid as the magic inside.
  1142.  
  1143. Opening the bottle her hand is placed over the top, blue mist rises from within into the Spirit's hand. The Darkness plaguing her, as well as the vitality she had given moments ago now returned.
  1144. (Elayna Taranis)
  1145. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1146.  
  1147. [22:02] {NARRATION} In front of the party now lay a very wide path forward made completely and utterly of stone bricks. Something or someone had been crafting this, little by little. This trail goes forward, then turns right, then goes down in a staircase for a minute, then repeats this process. The stones are only getting warmer and hotter, sooner or later it'd be intolerable.
  1148.  
  1149. The stone in several places seemed eroded, broken and chipped. And where red magma should've been dripping through, there is a weird and almost mystical color locked inside of the magma.
  1150.  
  1151. .. It was blue. For one reason or another, the coloration of the molten stone was nothing like it was before. There is no reasonable or feasible explanation for this phenomenon. Or was there..? Regardless, a single stone door with its lock already busted open sits at the end of this very large descending staircase.
  1152. [22:02] Ethan Hawke asks, "... Let's get going, yeah?"
  1153. [22:03] Already intolerant of the heat, Esso's feet lift slightly off the ground and he hovers about a foot as they float down the descending stairway.
  1154. (Esso Invidia)
  1155. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1156.  
  1157. [22:04] Ethan decided to lead the way this time around. His friends had taken enough risk as it was already - he wasn't going to let them lose their lives at this point. Step by step the Wayfinder advanced down the stairs, aiming to get to the door.
  1158.  
  1159. A few glimpses are taken at the odd magma, though unless he was insanely lucky he doubted he'd recognize or see anything— this wasn't normal.
  1160. (Ethan Hawke)
  1161. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1162.  
  1163. [22:05] Siegfried follows behind. As with before, there wasn't a whole lot for him to do or say.
  1164. (Siegfried)
  1165. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1166.  
  1167. [22:05] "Ugh. It's getting so hot." Marceline griped, fanning herself with a free hand. She floated alongside the party as Ethan lead the way. There was only one path, really. So, she trusted his judgment for now.
  1168.  
  1169. "Why are we here again?"
  1170. (Marceline)
  1171. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1172.  
  1173. [22:06] Escaping Light [DM] whispers: (The influx of an abnormal magic is very palpable here. The magma seems hot yet not, cold yet not. It drips and burns, though it freezes the stone as it touches it. This is divine magic. You are getting close.)
  1174. [22:08] As long as the heat was mundane, she should be fine, as long as she didn't sink into the lava itself. That would probably be enough to do something.
  1175.  
  1176. The blue lave was disconcerting, her senses pouring forth.. an attempt to figure out what it is, even taking a peek at it from the Spirit Realm.
  1177.  
  1178. She may speak after if it reveals anything, otherwise she follows the leader with her usual preparations and sensory outputs.
  1179. (Elayna Taranis)
  1180. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1181.  
  1182. [22:08] The Wayfinder looks around himself - feeling a thunking sound against his staff all of a sudden. The spirit within spoke from beneath the six circles, glowing with an everchanging rainbow color.
  1183.  
  1184. "Hey, knucklehead! You don't recognize divine magic when you see it? Don't get hit by that magma; it's burn— freeze— mess you up!"
  1185.  
  1186. A nod was given to his unseen partner, eyes shifting towards the fae.
  1187.  
  1188. "Everything in there's bound to be precious."
  1189. (Ethan Hawke)
  1190. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1191.  
  1192. [22:09] {NARRATION} Has anyone opened the door?
  1193. [22:09] Marceline asks, "Who the hell was that?"
  1194. [22:12] {NARRATION} Let's just say the door has already been opened. Little by little, it creeks open. There is a blast of both hot and cold air as soon as it opens up, and inside of the newly opened pavillion there are pools of magma that are discolored left and right. Some are yellow, some are green. Others are red, blue, or even white.
  1195.  
  1196. In the center of this room - A titanic beast sleeps quietly. Lodged into its shoulders and head - Are colorful orbs that mirror and match those from the mimc's room.
  1197.  
  1198. Red. Orange. Purple. That would make eight total orbs. Though, the beast is sleeping in the center of the room.
  1199. [22:14] Marceline figured that any giant beast at the center of an ominous room didn't want to be reasoned with, especially when the area was so corrupt. She flew towards Ethan's ear, advising him on how to proceed quietly. A ruthless way of going about things, but probably the best choice.
  1200.  
  1201. "GET THE JUMP ON IT." she muttered into his ear.
  1202. (Marceline)
  1203. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1204.  
  1205. [22:17] What a terrifying thing to stumble upon. It looked like it wasn't going to give them any room to breathe if they even thought about waking it up normally. The orbs on its body only made the Wayfinder believe these were part of the key - somehow. A nod was offered to Marceline's whisper. He agreed to it.
  1206.  
  1207. The only way they could defeat this one would be by striking a critial blow right off the bat. His right hand reached out to Siegfried's shoulder, a look of...
  1208.  
  1209. ... it was hard to describe, but the young lad would definitely be able to read his mind; all it screamed was You are the chosen one, go forth and strike my child.
  1210.  
  1211. Whether the younging accepted his fate or not was left to be seen.
  1212. (Ethan Hawke)
  1213. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1214.  
  1215. [22:19] Ethan Hawke whispers: Siegfried. It's time for you to learn about the Noel special.
  1216. [22:20] Siegfried turns, slowly, crown of flowers on his head, weapon still not having been drawn in this entire escapade. The look that he gives Ethan could kill.
  1217.  
  1218. "Can't you literally just..."
  1219.  
  1220. He waves his hands, and sparks of electricity harmlessly fizzle from them, cascading and pooling on the ground.
  1221.  
  1222. "Zap that thing, instead of me gettin' close?"
  1223.  
  1224. The boy wasn't that damn dumb.
  1225. (Siegfried)
  1226. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1227.  
  1228. [22:23] It was asleep... the last time she had poked something with the Lifestream yielded an attack as a result.. but this had to be it. What was causing all of this.
  1229.  
  1230. She feels the area around it, trying to figure out exactly what this thing maybe.. or the closest thing she'd know it as.
  1231. (Elayna Taranis)
  1232. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1233.  
  1234. [22:24] {NARRATION} D20. Elayna.
  1235. [22:25] Escaping Light [DM] whispers something.
  1236. [22:26] Escaping Light [DM] whispers something.
  1237. [22:27] Elayna Taranis says, "This... this isn't all that we will face."
  1238. [22:27] Ethan Hawke asks, "... What do you mean?"
  1239. [22:28] She gestures to the sleeping chaos force thing,
  1240.  
  1241. "THIS is just the calm before the storm.... What's behind the door is worse.. so much worse."
  1242. (Elayna Taranis)
  1243. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1244.  
  1245. [22:29] Ethan Hawke asks, "... Think we can get them to fight or should we finish this one off quickly?"
  1246. [22:30] Marceline says, "Let's get rid of this one first. It's better to handle the problems one at a time."
  1247. [22:30] Ethan Hawke says, ".. Alright."
  1248. [22:31] Words spoken low were given as the grip on the young one's shoulder tightened up just a tad.
  1249.  
  1250. "We're doing both. I'm giving you the jump so you can hit it and move out before it all explodes.
  1251.  
  1252. Get ready, Siggy."
  1253.  
  1254. The Wayfinder offered a grin before his arm moved forward, aiming to force Siegfried into a portal that lead right behind that thing's neck. His other hand unleashed readied itself to unleash a debilitating nightmare, hoping it'd keep it down for a few more seconds once Siegfried struck - opening the way for others to launch everything at once.
  1255.  
  1256. Hopefully that would be enough to give them an edge in battle.
  1257.  
  1258. "Do it!"
  1259. (Ethan Hawke)
  1260. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1261.  
  1262. [22:31] {NARRATION} /vit for me now.
  1263. [22:34] {NARRATION} ... And just like that, it had stirred awake. Siegfried, roll a D20.
  1264. 12 or higher, it loses 100 vit.
  1265. 11 or lower, it gains 100 vit.
  1266. [22:37] {NARRATION} Siegfried lodges his blade into the armor plates of the Ascended Kaor. And as it started to shudder and wake up from it, it throws the youth backwards. The magma all around the room starts to bubble and boil as every last inch of it drains into the beast.
  1267.  
  1268. Multicolored magma boils from its body, and when it slams its claws down into the floor. A mixture of magmatic spears and icicles sprout from the ground all around it. It could control both. As the blends of divine magic came together within the beast, it became a force of nature.
  1269.  
  1270. It became a divine-warped titan.
  1271.  
  1272. [Injuries suffered from this fight are doubled at the end of the fight due to overwhelming divine force.]
  1273.  
  1274. And it ran right towards them.
  1275. [22:40] As divine magic surrounded the titan she frowned, a magic not truly meant for mortals... thought thing was not mortal.
  1276.  
  1277. There could be a storm felt around the Spirit, the Lifestream being called upon more than before a cyclone of its energy surrounding her.
  1278.  
  1279. She would do all she could to quell its chaotic nature.
  1280. (Elayna Taranis)
  1281. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1282.  
  1283. [22:40] Well, that just pissed it off. Getting the jump on it went unsuccessfully compared to what Marceline expected. The magic of angels coalesced into this terrifying demon, turning it into a warped abomination. Her grip hardened on her staff, plasma flames rising.
  1284.  
  1285. "You should have just done it yourself, Ethan!" she criticized the wayfinder harshly, which couldn't have done well for Siegfried's self esteem.
  1286. (Marceline)
  1287. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1288.  
  1289. [22:41] Siegfried is thrown by Ethan, hurtled at the monster. His mouth opens, and spittle is flying from his mouth in a trail, his eyes wide as saucers.
  1290.  
  1291. "YOU SON OF A BI-"
  1292.  
  1293. In midair, Siegfried's sword is withdrawn, as this time, the boy is fighting for his goddamn life. Screw it. If this was his fate, if he were to be thrown in, a sacrificial lamb to be hurtled at this beast, he would embrace his inner nutshell.
  1294.  
  1295. "BANZAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!"
  1296.  
  1297. His tongue hangs from his mouth, and the boy aims to hack away at the thing, adjusting his downward trajectory into a flame-fueled phoenix dive, barreling into the creature with a mighty slash. When it goes to knock him back, he is prepared, raising his sword to meet the blow, and though it rattles him down to his bones, skidding back, he is ready to take the plunge.
  1298.  
  1299. Wreathed in hazy blue light and spiraling electricity like a humanoid tempest, he stands front and center, ready to go.
  1300. (Siegfried)
  1301. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1302.  
  1303. [22:41] The magic surrounding this thing is utterly and completely overwhelming. What it reminds him of most is actually.. Elisheva, and that, to Esso, is a terrifying opponent to fight. Nevertheless, he pulls the dagger from its sheathe, though he's determined to be even more cautious this fight than before.
  1304. (Esso Invidia)
  1305. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1306.  
  1307. [22:54] {NARRATION} KOs:
  1308. - - - - - - - - - -
  1309. Ethan Hawke: 2
  1310. Esso: 1
  1311. Siegfried: 2
  1312. Elayna: 1
  1313. Marceline: 1
  1314. - - - - - - - - - -
  1315. Roll a D6 to determine injuries. There are DOUBLED. 4+ = no injury.
  1316. [22:54] {NARRATION} Ethan: Two 12 Day Temporary
  1317. Elayna: Two 4 Day Temporary
  1318. - - - - - - - - - -
  1319. You may RP your victory.
  1320. [22:59] This was terrifying. Harsh. Destructive. The sheer power that came from the divine energies at play were something that the Wayfinder hadn't expected, yet it only made him more confident that this was the way to realize his and Reito's project - one that could save the world. One that could change the world completely.
  1321.  
  1322. Fire and ice coalesced around the beast before it ravaged the old man all at once, barely even giving him the chance to do anything - blasting him back at the end of the room and on the ground. God, that sucked. Everything hurt. Everything... was horrible. He stared at the ceiling, hearing the sounds of battle not too far off as he laid there, absolutely overwhelmed by the sheer intensity of this full wheel of elemental releases.
  1323.  
  1324. He wasn't getting back up for a while.
  1325. (Ethan Hawke)
  1326. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1327.  
  1328. [23:03] ** Escaping Light [DM] has inflicted an injury upon Ethan Hawke. ("Ruptured Lung", "Ethan Hawke's lung has been crushed over the force of a supremely large glacier. Slammed over the head by the beast's force, his ribs were crumpled and breathing has become excessively difficult because of this.", "Temporary", "Duration: Long (12 days)") **
  1329. [23:03] Despite his injury, despite the heat, despite his INCREDIBLE terror at the divine magic radiating off this thing, Esso found himself slipping further and further into the heat of battle. It swatted him once, but with a deft roll, he narrowly avoids taking even worse injuries, and he leaps right back in to continue his jabbing. It's not the knife that finishes the beast though. He leaps atop its head, not unlike how he did to the undead dragon in the Ghoul King's tower, but with a twist.
  1330.  
  1331. He slams his knife into its head and his body surges with golden lightning. It leaps from his body to his arms to the knife and down the creature's body, surging through it like he's turned it into an artificial tesla coil. Like a tesla coil though, it can only hold so much before it literally bursts, and burst it does out of its back towards the north wall where he's focusing the electricity.
  1332.  
  1333. What he's left standing on his a smoking, rocky husk of the front of its body, which quickly crumbles. Esso leaps to the ground, collecting the three orbs from what's left of it.
  1334. (Esso Invidia)
  1335. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1336.  
  1337. [23:05] ** Escaping Light [DM] has inflicted an injury upon Ethan Hawke. ("Deafness", "Caught by a stream of divine flame, Ethan Hawke's hearing has gone completely and utterly deaf in his right ear. His face is burned as well, leaving him to look like a misfigured victim. .. Luckily, the damage is not permenant.", "Temporary", "Duration: Long (12 days)") **
  1338. [23:05] {NARRATION} Ethan. Elayna. /vit.
  1339. [23:05] Marceline had fought against many enemies of this caliber, but none juiced up on divine magic itself. It felt like she was opposing creation itself, a being that could bend reality around them on a whim. This being had taken divine magic into itself. The pressure was rightfully immense: this Kaor wielded the power of gods. So, what did that make them?
  1340.  
  1341. Godslayers.
  1342.  
  1343. Defiantly, Marceline manipulated the full extent of her arcana to bring down this seemingly insurmountable foe. She dashed in, exploding with plasma and ice and rifting herself out. Emotion built up inside of Marceline, namely anger. By the end of the battle, it was only her, Elayna, and Esso. A trio that somehow remained and whittled the beast down.
  1344.  
  1345. "Will this thing.. just.. DIE ALREADY?!" she shrieked, annoyed. Her mana reserves were dwindling, and she was running purely on anger at this point. Plasma fueled by her blazing wrath, and ice empowered by her malice. A tesla beam erupted from her staff, empowering Esso's electrifying finisher and causing the beast to tumble. The demon pulsated with gold and purple electricity.
  1346.  
  1347. "And, what's beyond that door is supposed to be worse?" she asked, huffing.
  1348. (Marceline)
  1349. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1350.  
  1351. [23:05] Initially, at the onset, he moves swiftly, narrowly evading certain death and springing onto the creature with devastatingly punishing, high-speed combinations. Every which way that it swung, he was just seconds out of reach, streaking into a bolt of electricity attoseconds before impact each time. Burning hot emotions were kept loosely under his grip, honing his reactions to a zenith...
  1352.  
  1353. Attempting to balance chaotic feeling in the face of a divine being was a mistake that an amateur would make. Unfortunately, he was an amateur.
  1354.  
  1355. Siegfried is throttled, abruptly, rocked by a stray hit and sent spiraling throughout the air like an airplane plummeting to the ground. He strikes the dirt, hard, and tumbles across. Inevitably, his back hits a wall, and he lies there, his twin swords embedded into the ground on either side of it.
  1356.  
  1357. "Good job team," he slurs, head spinning around in circles with metaphorical stars whirling in his perception.
  1358.  
  1359. Siegfried tosses a thumbs up before he lays on his back and closes his eyes. He's not out, but it was time for a breather.
  1360. (Siegfried)
  1361. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1362.  
  1363. [23:12] {NARRATION} The monster thrashed. It was hurting and wounding all of them left and right, about to tear and rip into them little by little. It had been weakened little by little, and as Esso had mounted it from its head. As the blade lodged into it, lightning started to channel through it more and more.
  1364.  
  1365. With an explosion coming from its stomach, its guts and all of the magma that comes along with it spills out. Several horns break from its head - As it had three, and not two - And after it had died.. The final door could finally be seen.
  1366.  
  1367. ... A Nyeshk vault door. Lined with arcanium locks, it was a door that.. Was never meant to be opened.
  1368. [23:12] The damage was disorienting. He could barely breathe, barely thing, barely hear. Half of his face was burnt and his whole body looked like a mess. The Ghould King's curse pulsed with a dark red glow a bit brighter than ever; the remains of death magic could only feel the Wayfinder getting closer and closer to crossing the line and falling in the realm of the dead.
  1369.  
  1370. Fuck. That hurt like hell.
  1371.  
  1372. Being a slacker for over a decade had left him enduring all of this in the worst years of his life, yet, the magi would likely stand no chance in moving on forward if he wasn't a slacker. If he wasn't a mess. If he hadn't been part of an expedition that never happened - leaving him with no chance to improve. All he could credit his talents to was his fight against Dezmerak - the ascension of the tower had left him facing the reality of these kinds of situation. The risk that came with it. After nearly dying - nearly watching his friends die? Ethan came prepared.
  1373.  
  1374. ... Twice prepared.
  1375.  
  1376. His left hand shifted, rummaging through his pockets before he pulled out a vial - the vial he had gotten a day or so after they fought in the tower. A day after the fallen angel's minion was slain.
  1377.  
  1378. An elixir that brought life back into his body.
  1379. (Ethan Hawke)
  1380. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1381.  
  1382. [23:15] Elayna Taranis says, "That door holds back a storm."
  1383. [23:17] Esso Invidia says, "Well, if that's where the storm is, that's probably where we need to go."
  1384. [23:20] Marceline asks, "What do we open the locks with?"
  1385. [23:20] Elayna Taranis says, "It had three orbs.."
  1386. [23:21] Esso produces the eight orbs.
  1387. (Esso Invidia)
  1388. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1389.  
  1390. [23:21] Esso Invidia asks, "They fell out of the last door, remember?"
  1391. [23:21] Marceline says, "Let's do it, then."
  1392. [23:23] {NARRATION} The door has an inscription on it. Below the inscription, there is a 3x3 grid with orb slots inside. There are no crystals here. They would have to be input manually.
  1393. - - - - - - - - - -
  1394. Chamber 1: Low Gray. Chamber 2: High Green, components follow.
  1395. Chamber 3: Low Red, derivatives above.
  1396. - - - - - - - - - -
  1397. C1 C3 C2
  1398. X X X
  1399. X X X
  1400. X X X
  1401. [23:23] Esso Invidia asks, "Are we ready?"
  1402. [23:23] Ethan Hawke says, "..."
  1403. [23:24] Ethan Hawke says, "I don't think we can just stick those in - there's some kind of code we need to crack, Esso."
  1404. [23:24] Marceline says, "Oh goddamn it, we need a combination."
  1405. [23:24] Esso Invidia says, "We're missing one orb I think."
  1406. [23:24] Esso Invidia says, "That much is obvious."
  1407. [23:24] Esso Invidia says, "Chamber 2 is easy."
  1408. [23:24] Esso Invidia says, "Green in the top, then yellow and blue below."
  1409. [23:25] Ethan Hawke says, "-"
  1410. [23:25] Ethan Hawke says, "Oh. Yeah."
  1411. [23:25] Esso Invidia says, "We're missing gray though."
  1412. [23:25] Esso Invidia says, "Chamber three is Red, Orange, and Purple."
  1413. [23:25] Ethan Hawke asks, "Red at the bottom, yeah?"
  1414. [23:25] Ethan Hawke says, "..."
  1415. [23:25] Esso Invidia says, "Aye."
  1416. [23:25] Esso Invidia says, "Low Red."
  1417. [23:25] Ethan Hawke says, "White and black make gray."
  1418. [23:25] Elayna Taranis says, "Blue and red... need to be adjacent in their chambers."
  1419. [23:25] Esso Invidia says, "Yes, but we don't have a gray orb."
  1420. [23:26] Ethan Hawke says, "So if we leave chamber one empty at the bottom and put black and white above, then it should do."
  1421. [23:26] Esso Invidia says, "That could work."
  1422. [23:26] Ethan Hawke says, "And-"
  1423. [23:26] Esso Invidia says, "If not, we need to look around for a gray orb."
  1424. [23:26] Ethan Hawke says, "Yeah, Elayna's right."
  1425. [23:26] Esso Invidia asks, "Why do you think that?"
  1426. [23:26] Ethan Hawke says, "Yellow and Orange gotta be next to eachother."
  1427. [23:27] Ethan Hawke says, "Since red's made from them."
  1428. [23:27] Ethan Hawke says, "well-"
  1429. [23:27] Marceline says, "..."
  1430. [23:27] Marceline says, "Can't we just.."
  1431. [23:27] Ethan Hawke asks, "You get what I mean, yeah?"
  1432. [23:27] Marceline says, "Make a portal to the other side..."
  1433. [23:27] Ethan Hawke says, "We wouldn't earn what's on the other side if we did that."
  1434. [23:28] Marceline asks, "What the hell are you talking about?"
  1435. [23:28] Ethan Hawke says, "It's a matter of principle, Marcie. We're not here to steal; we're here to rightfully obtain."
  1436. [23:29] Marceline says, "We're still stealing, no matter how you spin it. This is just stealing with extra steps."
  1437. [23:29] Esso sets the orbs down on the ground in the pattern they're considering before they stick them in the slots. He sets them down as:
  1438.  
  1439. B P G
  1440. W O Y
  1441. R B
  1442. (Esso Invidia)
  1443. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1444.  
  1445. [23:33] {NARRATION} Chamber 1: Low Gray.
  1446. Chamber 2: High Green, components follow.
  1447. Chamber 3: Low Red, derivatives above.
  1448. - - - - - - - - - -
  1449. C1 C3 C2
  1450. Bk P G
  1451. W O Y
  1452. X R B
  1453. - - - - - - - - - -
  1454. Chamber 2 locks in, correct.
  1455. Chamber 3 locks in, correct.
  1456.  
  1457. Chamber 1 tries to lock, but ultiamtely doesn't. A slab of stone slams behind them, and magma begins to pour in from the ceiling!
  1458. - - - - - - - - - -
  1459. Two more attempts before the entire party recieves a perm.
  1460. [23:33] Ethan Hawke says, "-"
  1461. [23:33] Esso Invidia says, "I think we need that gray orb after all."
  1462. [23:35] Ethan scans over the room for a few moments. He was certain that if there was a gray orb then they'd have seen it coming in, right? The Wayfinder's teeth come to a grit, only for him to propose a crazy - batshit Taiga-crazy idea.
  1463.  
  1464. "Split them. Split them in half and put half of each at the bottom."
  1465.  
  1466. Fucking insane.
  1467. (Ethan Hawke)
  1468. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1469.  
  1470. [23:35] Marceline exclaims, "You know, I'd rather prefer opening a rift in this wall than BURNING TO DEATH!"
  1471. [23:35] {NARRATION} everyone roll a d20 for intelligence
  1472. [23:36] Escaping Light [DM] whispers something.
  1473. [23:37] Ethan Hawke says, "...."
  1474. [23:38] Ethan Hawke says, "Or just stick both at the bottom at the same time-"
  1475. [23:38] Ethan Hawke says, "It'll make gray, too. If it fits."
  1476. [23:40] Ethan Hawke asks, "Wanna try it, Esso?"
  1477. [23:40] Ethan Hawke says, "Just shove both."
  1478. [23:41] Esso shakes his head, taking the black orb and sticking it in the bottom slot, glancing over at the chamber 2 orbs.
  1479. (Esso Invidia)
  1480. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1481.  
  1482. [23:42] {NARRATION} correct.
  1483. [23:46] {NARRATION} The arcanium locks on the doors start to pop off one by one, little by little each and every lock starts to creak and bust and fall to the floor. It's salvage as another piece of arcanium. The magma behind them is forcing them forward.
  1484.  
  1485. Only one way to go. But as the doors creak open, there is an assault of such utterly putrid force that races through at them and causes holy magi - and the further attuned - to their knees in immediate pain.
  1486.  
  1487. A feminine, very jovial laughter fills this final chamber. Multicolored lava spews from the ceiling, the walls, it almost seems like Niagara falls if it was multicolored lava and not water.
  1488.  
  1489. And they were about to be standing right in the center. A voice can be heard throughout.
  1490.  
  1491. ".. Ah? I -knew- there was company soon. I should've tidied the place..."
  1492.  
  1493. This place was the heart of the twisted divine phenomenon across the volcano.
  1494. [23:48] She was hurt... her emotions attempting to rage forth... it was something she could not allow. The struggle would be every evident on her face even...
  1495.  
  1496. I will not let my actions decided by emotion... I will not let emotion rule my magic..
  1497.  
  1498. She speaks voice strained,
  1499.  
  1500. "Who are you?"
  1501.  
  1502. Shield and magic at the ready, whatever was the cause of all of this cannot be good.
  1503. (Elayna Taranis)
  1504. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1505.  
  1506. [23:48] Oh.
  1507.  
  1508. A woman was here. Or...something that sounded like one. That was absolutely, almost certainly not good. The moment he heard it, he kind of shrinks behind Esso's presence - not Ethan's, that son of a bitch threw him last time.
  1509.  
  1510. Siegfried was not about to fucking get hurtled headfirst into some bullshit again.
  1511. (Siegfried)
  1512. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1513.  
  1514. [23:49] The sights were amazing. It was something out of dream - something that you'd come across in the spirit world only. Lavafalls that shone with every color of the rainbow and reached the deepest parts of this volcano were definitely imbued by divine magic, leaving the Wayfinder even more convinced than he was before: This was what he needed.
  1515.  
  1516. The old man brought his arms up as the occult forces washed over him, forcing a nullifying barrier to appear in order to repel it - to contain it. Just who was that woman and... what was she?
  1517. (Ethan Hawke)
  1518. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1519.  
  1520. [23:51] He looks around hesitantly as the locks come down.
  1521.  
  1522. Only one way to go..
  1523.  
  1524. The smell catches him off-guard, but it's not that bothers him. It's this feeling of dread that feels like it's threatening to tear his soul from his body. It takes all of his willpower not to outright drop to his knees and freeze up, but his eyes flit around in a paranoid fashion for the feminine voice.
  1525. (Esso Invidia)
  1526. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1527.  
  1528. [23:52] By the time that the door was opened, Marceline was fuming. After having come up with the most practical and quickest solution, she had to sit back and watch as her life was placed in the hands of two fools doing a puzzle. Mostly, she despised whoever put together this puzzle.
  1529.  
  1530. The corrupt fae floated right into the room, seemingly unaffected by the horrendous feeling that the room gave. It even empowered her, pushing her to press forward with her utterly enraged expression. Her plasma flames brightened, becoming more dense.
  1531.  
  1532. There was no pain. Only anger.
  1533.  
  1534. "Who the hell do you think you are?!" she shouted into the room. She was sweating from the high temperatures, heavily breathing from all she had to endure to reach this point. "Come on, get over here! I'll kill you!" she yelled at the faceless voice.
  1535. (Marceline)
  1536. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1537. [00:00] Like an angel, a woman seems to descend downwards from the sky above. She's got large wings coming out of her back, and she had crimson red hair that came down to her waist. Crimson eyes that stare back at all of them, the woman tilts her head to the side and gives a wry smile. Her stare is meant to pierce right through Elayna while Vavillion arrived.
  1538.  
  1539. In both of her hands were two, crimson swords. And as she flipped them around her wrists, she's laughing to herself - The same laugh that fills the entire room. Flying by means of her absolutely massive Occult wings, she'd shrug her shoulders and tilt her head to the side.
  1540.  
  1541. "I - Am the Archon of Indulgence. You may call me Vavillion.. And I've been locked inside of this volcano by that locked door.. For two centuries." She shifts forward now, laughing very lightly as she took in a deep breath. "It is -so- kind of you to have opened it for me. Hm?"
  1542.  
  1543. She sticks her tongue out of her mouth, and on the tip of her tongue remains a rainbow-colored shard that shimmered and radiated extreme force. Licking her lips, she pulls her tongue back into her mouth and with it - The Spire Shard she had been since 'indulging on.'
  1544.  
  1545. "Now step aside... I have plans to make." The crimson swords in her hands? They were unmistakably.. Something of a divine construct. They were..
  1546.  
  1547. Beyond potent.
  1548. (Vavillion)
  1549. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1550.  
  1551. [00:00] {NARRATION} Like an angel, a woman seems to descend downwards from the sky above. She's got large wings coming out of her back, and she had crimson red hair that came down to her waist. Crimson eyes that stare back at all of them, the woman tilts her head to the side and gives a wry smile. Her stare is meant to pierce right through Elayna while Vavillion arrived.
  1552.  
  1553. In both of her hands were two, crimson swords. And as she flipped them around her wrists, she's laughing to herself - The same laugh that fills the entire room. Flying by means of her absolutely massive Occult wings, she'd shrug her shoulders and tilt her head to the side.
  1554.  
  1555. "I - Am the Archon of Indulgence. You may call me Vavillion.. And I've been locked inside of this volcano by that locked door.. For two centuries." She shifts forward now, laughing very lightly as she took in a deep breath. "It is -so- kind of you to have opened it for me. Hm?"
  1556.  
  1557. She sticks her tongue out of her mouth, and on the tip of her tongue remains a rainbow-colored shard that shimmered and radiated extreme force. Licking her lips, she pulls her tongue back into her mouth and with it - The Spire Shard she had been since 'indulging on.'
  1558.  
  1559. "Now step aside... I have plans to make." The crimson swords in her hands? They were unmistakably.. Something of a divine construct. They were..
  1560.  
  1561. Beyond potent.
  1562. [00:01] Esso Invidia asks, "Only two centuries?"
  1563. [00:01] Esso Invidia says, "From what I understand, that's not too terribly long for an Archon."
  1564. [00:04] Marceline stopped whenever Vavillion explained herself. The corrupt fae crossed her arms, squinting. Looking long and hard at the Archon with a scrutinizing gaze, as if she didn't believe her at first. "So, you weren't the one who made all of these puzzles." she said.
  1565.  
  1566. "Oh."
  1567.  
  1568. And with that, the corrupt fae slowly hovered back. Away from the forefront of the squad, and somewhere near the back. That's all she was actually angry about, the dumb puzzles that they needed to solve in order to get here. The Archon themselves didn't instill any rage in Marceline.
  1569. (Marceline)
  1570. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1571.  
  1572. [00:05] This was the thing he sought out - the gem that resided within this woman's mouth was what Ethan needed to complete his project - to mend the world and erase Malentine's influence at once. The last obstacle would be her; Indulgence itself wouldn't allow anyone to take what was hers, would it? The small band of adventurers would definitely have to find another solution to get it.
  1573.  
  1574. ... A fight was almost bound to happen - yet...
  1575.  
  1576. "What kind of plans?" He asked, only to remind himself that archons could be dealt with - spoken to. Convinced.
  1577.  
  1578. "We might be able to help, yeah?"
  1579.  
  1580. Ethan's younger days were full of almost-fights turned into mere talks. This could happen here, too.
  1581. (Ethan Hawke)
  1582. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1583.  
  1584. [00:06] Esso's eyes narrow at the woman. Whatever pain he was showing before ceases now; he had more important things to be mindful of than the sickening aura of this place that she's no doubt the source of. Her swords are no doubt FAR more lethal than the aura, along with any part of her body. This is definitely the end of their journey, and she confirms that when she licks her lips, the glint of the spire shard unmistakable as she readies herself and demands they stand aside.
  1585.  
  1586. He doesn't budge.
  1587. (Esso Invidia)
  1588. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1589.  
  1590. [00:07] An Archon... the first she'd seen on her time in Agartha.. being native Britannian she understood Imperfect.. though this..
  1591.  
  1592. This was what had been held here...
  1593.  
  1594. The Book of Kraus held few exceptions for most of its teachings, but...
  1595.  
  1596. Don't suffer a Yokai to live
  1597.  
  1598. This was the closest she had seen, it was a moral conflict for her to not want to end the friendlier Demons.. though they showed some form of redemption. Something mainland Yokai cannot..
  1599.  
  1600. This was an Archon who had bent Divine magic to their will... they would not be spared...
  1601.  
  1602. Golden lightning crackles from the Spirit, a silent prayer,
  1603.  
  1604. Give me the strength to do what I must.. to prevent this evil from being unleased... give me the strength to endure..
  1605.  
  1606. THe Lifestream floods her once more, as if a floodgate had opened... the golden shield a blinding white..
  1607.  
  1608. "You will not be walking from this place."
  1609.  
  1610. Her words carried weight, the weight of all that should be flowing through her words.. the energy of life.
  1611. (Elayna Taranis)
  1612. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1613.  
  1614. [00:08] Right now, Siegfried doesn't really care much about what Esso may or may not understand about Archons. He is infinitely more concerned with the fact that he was going to die.
  1615.  
  1616. The boy's actually visibly trembling from the sheer presence of the divine entity that is laid out before them. Where the others are squaring up, ready to make bargains or bare their steel?
  1617.  
  1618. Siegfried is a nineteen year old boy who'd had no idea what he was getting himself into.
  1619.  
  1620. He stares like a deer caught in headlights.
  1621. (Siegfried)
  1622. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1623.  
  1624. [00:16] {NARRATION} She brings the red swords into the sky, shaking her head side to side as they're both pointed at the spirit in question. "Do you know why they call me Indulgence?" She flies forward on her wings, grinning ear to ear. "Because when I get my hands on things, I can't stop until I've sucked all the power and life from them. And that's why this pretty little shard.."
  1625.  
  1626. She flutters forward, now pointing the blades towards Elayna. Blades start to manifest in the sky, hundreds and hundreds of them. Crimson and black, they ready to pierce and penetrate her until she was lifeless.
  1627.  
  1628. "Has kept me oh so entertained over the years. When I leave here, I plan on returning to Agartha and using everything this pretty shard has given to me.. And scorching the people who sealed me here. Jianghu and the combined tribes of Gehenna."
  1629.  
  1630. She's smiling lightly, laughing now. "If you try and stop me, I will kill you. Step aside, and none of this has to happen."
  1631. [00:16] Elayna Taranis says, "It's a good thing I died already."
  1632. [00:21] The red swords up above his head were the thing that had Ethan's more diplomatic attempts turn completely. There was no redeeming this kind of evil. It was astounding that people still thought that Isaac was a decent person worth of their companionship— crazy that someone like Reito would fall for him, too. Those bloodstones were always able to manipulate people and control them, after all. Ethan had never forgotten. He had always known.
  1633.  
  1634. This archon was no different. Sucking on the power they were not born with and priding themselves over the destruction they would bring; this was no way to live life. The Wayfinder wouldn't allow this thing to keep on living.
  1635.  
  1636. "Wrong answer." He uttered, launching forth a wave of orange flame - keeping their natural color despite the empowering occult taint.
  1637. (Ethan Hawke)
  1638. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1639.  
  1640. [00:22] Marceline just floated there, fully prepared to not do anything about this. In her mind, none of this was her problem. If anything, she could leverage this situation with Vavillion to gain power whenever the Archon did reach Agartha. She genuinely considered just letting this happen.
  1641.  
  1642. When the others prepared for battle, however.. she felt expectations weighing down on her. Which made her felt obligated to do something. ".. What, do you expect me to do something?" she asked as Ethan threw the first attack, groaning and reaching for her weapon.
  1643.  
  1644. "Fine."
  1645. (Marceline)
  1646. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1647.  
  1648. [00:28] There was nothing else, was there?
  1649.  
  1650. He brings out the big sword.
  1651.  
  1652. Not Noel's, a gift from the bandit warrior that'd been his friend, but the other. The one that Taiga had imparted to him, that Taiga's friend had given to him, a sword which had belonged to someone that no longer was, but whose will still remained. He holds in his hands a blade that looked comical on his diminuitive frame, locks of auburn hair framing his face as he takes in a deep breath, squares his shoulders, sets his feet shoulder-width apart...
  1653.  
  1654. I'll always be the optimist, he'd told Ashalle earlier this very same day.
  1655.  
  1656. It was good, then, that he believed in far-off dreams.
  1657.  
  1658. Because going into battle with this thing, right now, felt like suicide.
  1659. (Siegfried)
  1660. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1661.  
  1662. [00:28] {NARRATION} Reminder.
  1663. If you lose this fight, you will choose one person in the group and they will die. If you cannot choose, D20s will be rolled and the lowest is chosen.
  1664.  
  1665. If you drop below 100 vit because of this fight, you will die.
  1666.  
  1667. You may still take injuries for one another.
  1668.  
  1669. Injuries are now doubled. Please /vit now.
  1670. [00:33] {NARRATION} Wait. I still have my DM MDam on. Reset. Relog, as well.
  1671. [00:33]
  1672. {LOAD GAME}
  1673.  
  1674. [00:39] {NARRATION} She raises her voice, a smile to her features.
  1675.  
  1676. "This is all? These are the people meant to kill me and stop me from scarring Agartha to oblivion?" Swords are ripped from Esso's chest and put back into the sky.
  1677.  
  1678. "Don't make me laugh.." Fire is ripped from Marceline's figure, coming back to her palm. Shadow morphs back onto her wrist.
  1679. [00:50] Ruthless. Reckless. This being was nothing short of the strongest thing he had ever come across. Between the divine blades of destruction, the death magic razing down one person after another, the occult blasts larger that any grown Kaor and the heated flames that could melt down Nyeshk with a snap it was a wonder she had remained trapped where she was for so long.
  1680.  
  1681. The Wayfinder could feel the despair that settled upon his allies' faces. He could feel their will waning - their heart crumpling. They were after his stupid decisions. His sense of adventure. His will to make the world a better place.
  1682.  
  1683. ... And for that, he couldn't give up on them. He couldn't stop believing in them. He couldn't stop believing in himself, either. Jesse, his brother, had fought with death before himself countless times. He was ready to jump in and die at any moment, to do what he had to do to win.
  1684.  
  1685. The old man picked himself back up, pushing himself to his feet with the staff he held - allowing it to glow in all of its own divine magnificence. Satsuki's gift wouldn't be wasted. The six Wayfinding commands began shedding forth a light reminiscing of what was in the archon's mouth. It cast forth all of its spells at once, allowing the room to fill itself with what seemed to be an endless amount of green portals, before...
  1686.  
  1687. ... The lot of them would find themselves forcefully teleported outside, right atop the volcano - right where the sun shone and the heavens watched over them. The heat wouldn't be as extreme as the heart deep within. The Wayfinder could only hope to inspire.
  1688.  
  1689. "Don't give in..!"
  1690. (Ethan Hawke)
  1691. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1692.  
  1693. [00:58] Siegfried has never felt quite so hopeless.
  1694.  
  1695. Again and again, he attempts to get in close and battle back Vavillion, and each time, it is like an insect swatting at God. Coming too close to the sun leaves him being burned away by it's radiance - going hurtling across the skies and embedding into a wall, only to rise, and fall, and rise, and fall, in a cycle that repeats itself for several minutes.
  1696.  
  1697. This is impossible.
  1698.  
  1699. "Even if I can get close to her, the winds that circle around her can stay my blade," he intones in despair. "If I make a single misstep, she blows me off my feet. My strikes don't even seem to phase her."
  1700.  
  1701. Were they in over their heads?
  1702.  
  1703. ---
  1704.  
  1705. Taiga's back was turned to him, and the man just walked away, wordlessly. Siegfried followed, running, running, but no matter how fast he ran, he couldn't catch up to the man walking.
  1706.  
  1707. Eventually, the Dhampir is out of sight, and he is alone.
  1708.  
  1709. He screams, but no one is there to hear him.
  1710.  
  1711. ---
  1712.  
  1713. Ethan changes the scenery. They are at the top of the volcano now, ash and brimstone still crowding down below, but a much further vicinity than before. His breathing is labored, heavy, and blood is matted to his forehead and soaking his clothing. Siegfried clenches his sword, vision fading in and out, and stares her down...
  1714.  
  1715. Ilui, Calael, Taiga, Thalia...
  1716.  
  1717. He grips his blade tighter, for those that were not here, for those at his side, for those who he must catch, and throughout his body ripples the adamant, burning refusal to lose. His aura burns brighter, and the static that hazes his mind is expelled, outward...
  1718.  
  1719. And nothing hurts anymore,
  1720. I feel kind of freeee…
  1721.  
  1722. "WE'RE JUST GETTING STARTED!"
  1723.  
  1724. We're still the kids we used to be!
  1725.  
  1726. Siegfried, terrified, out of his mind, on a suicide mission, finds bravery in his bravado. His moxie is the regal cowl that shields him from that which would bind his movement. The cloak of energy burns so bright it hurt the eye to gaze upon, with azure electricity that crackles so intense it sears his skins almost like the lava below would...
  1727.  
  1728. Like a breath exhaled from the earth, he charges forth with his allies, ready to make what could very well be their final stand - with the most unlikely of people.
  1729. (Siegfried)
  1730. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1731.  
  1732. [00:59] {NARRATION} "Don't. Make. Me. Laugh. Do you really think a change in scenery will change the outcome of this?"
  1733. [01:04] {NARRATION} Little by little, she's fighting jovially. She's smiling as she does it. The woman brings her arms into the air, and casts more swords into Esso as he ran. They pierce him. pin him to the walls. She's smiling ear to ear, laughing as she does so.
  1734.  
  1735. It's about then when Marceline hit her with as much rampant power as she could muster, and her focus is shattered. Vavillion screams outwards, and her fist tightens. A burst of holy force from Elayna's flank crashes into the woman. She's weakened, her defenses are broken.
  1736.  
  1737. The malicious winds surrounding her body have all faded, she's losing power very fast. Her tongue with the Spire Shard dances about her lips once more, dancing as she laughs. "Do you really think any of this is going in your favor? Do you think you're heroes? You're all going to die."
  1738.  
  1739. It's about then when Marceline returned, the Fae blasting her down into a crater below. Power. There is power flushing across the entire volcano's landscape.
  1740.  
  1741. "Why do you fight? Do you think you're strong enough to stand and walk on your own two feet?" She roars now, picking herself back up.
  1742. [01:05] {NARRATION} - - - - - - - - - - -
  1743. KOs:
  1744. - - - - - - - - - - -
  1745. Ethan: 2
  1746. Esso: 3
  1747. Elayna: 2
  1748. Marceline: 2
  1749. Siegfried: 3
  1750. [01:09] "It's not about being a hero. It ain't even about you." Ethan answered, his cape shifting around with the heat - the wind. His whole body flickering from one spot to another. Emerald eyes laid upon the Archon, a wave of fire unleashed - crashing against her dark own.
  1751.  
  1752. "This is about gettin' what we need to take down some potato-mouth dickbag. If you wanna stand in the way of that, then that's your choice!"
  1753.  
  1754. The man's mana circuits were running on high, his whole body was in pain, but he refused to fall. A thick, nigh-unbreakable layer of nullifying magic appeared around him. He was ready for more.
  1755. (Ethan Hawke)
  1756. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1757.  
  1758. [01:09] Marceline didn't want to die.
  1759.  
  1760. She had been close many times, having stood on the brink. The corrupt fae knew the border between life and death well, but had never quite tipped over the edge yet. As the scenery changed to be atop the volcano, she was able to bask in the sunlight for the first time in forever.
  1761.  
  1762. And as she felt the sunlight encase her, she knew her place as a mortal under the sun. She understood how fragile her life was, every time she felt her soul tugged at by death magic. Shadowflame embers hung to her body. Everything burned.
  1763.  
  1764. The entire round was practically her playing keep away. She could hardly hang onto her consciousness as she ran. The pain accumulated, emotion building. The realization came that she had everything to lose in this moment, and she snapped. Vavillion's words were met with heated shouting.
  1765.  
  1766. "Shut up already!"
  1767.  
  1768. Well said. It was immediately followed by a tesla cannon that erupted from her staff, blasting the Archon into the epicenter of her own crater the moment that Marceline dashed in. A rift enclosed around Marceline, transporting her a fair distance away in the next moment. Her chest heaved, her heart beating against her chest like a piston.
  1769.  
  1770. "Actually, KEEP TALKING. I'll show you that you don't have any time to be running your mouth."
  1771. (Marceline)
  1772. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1773.  
  1774. [01:10] She'd been pierced, all over. Blades of Divinity were something more than the usual.. many wounds leaking streams of the mana sustaining her.. the closest thing she had to blood that little could draw from her.
  1775.  
  1776. The rifting to the top, the sun on her face... she had not lived a true second life.. but here she was. The warmth of the sun felt.. on a Spirit who'd been lost in purgatory for over a century.
  1777.  
  1778. It doesn't matter if I fade truly... all she can do is send me one step closer to Avalon.
  1779.  
  1780. Her sword is pointed, a wave of raw power from the Lifestream slamming into the Archon just after Marceline's blow weakened her defense the blow shattering them entirely.
  1781.  
  1782. Words fall on deaf ears as the Fae blasts her down into a crater,
  1783.  
  1784. "Why do I fight Demon..? I fight to be a light... to be a bulwark against the darkness. I am the Guardian, and my people you will not harm."
  1785.  
  1786. A golden storm began to brew above.
  1787. (Elayna Taranis)
  1788. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1789.  
  1790. [01:14] Heroes, villains..?
  1791.  
  1792. "Do you think this is a game?"
  1793.  
  1794. That seems to infuriate him more than anything, drawing himself up yet again while bleeding profusely from seemingly every orifice. He was gushing, everywhere, practically coming apart, and he could taste copper. Magic held him apart, like magical glue. His heart was racing, the boy's eyes affixed to her as he swayed back and forth.
  1795.  
  1796. "Wipe that stupid fucking smile off of your face," he roars at the top of the volcano. Electricity flashes from his willowy frame, feral and angry, nothing like his usual self. He points the blade in his grip at her, and it refracts the light of the sun.
  1797.  
  1798. "Up here, six shadows cast, six fates foretold, and at the end of the broken path, is your death, and your death alone," he prophesizes.
  1799.  
  1800. And then he moves, to etch his prophecy into the tablet of fate.
  1801.  
  1802. (Siegfried)
  1803. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1804.  
  1805. [01:21] {NARRATION} She's thrown back, endlessly so she is knocked backwards and almost has pieces blown off of her armor and body. The woman brings a shield of swords up to defend herself, but in the end - It is their collective mighty force that can once again keep them not dead. Afloat.
  1806.  
  1807. They are nearing the end. Vavillion is panting, bleeding from her lip and face as she stares back at all of them with bloodshot eyes. The woman takes in a deep breath, shaking her head side to side. A snarl can be heard, and her body starts to shift and burn brightly with force and power. Now reaching into the sky, her wings start to grow and grow.
  1808.  
  1809. They are no longer black and without form. They are made of flame - They extend from her back and flap as she floats. "God.. You're all so -fucking- annoying." Black flames start to coalesce in her palm, pointed towards the group now.
  1810.  
  1811. She snarls, licking the blood from her lips and showing the Spire Shard from her smile.
  1812.  
  1813. "I'm going to kill every last one of you."
  1814. - - - - - - - - - - -
  1815. KOs:
  1816. - - - - - - - - - - -
  1817. Ethan: 2
  1818. Esso: 3
  1819. Elayna: 3
  1820. Marceline: 2
  1821. Siegfried: 3
  1822. [01:25] "I ain't dying before I get my dumbass, corrupted-ass stupid daughter back!"
  1823.  
  1824. Ethan was mad. Ethan was actually mad. There were very few times where he had shown that kind of anger, and this was one of them. Even at the end of his rope he never seemed to be too negative or angry, but this? This was too much. This was just another thing in their way - something threatening their lives. Something selfish. Something possessing the power of the fallen angels along the very same death magic the Dezmerak had inflicted him with.
  1825.  
  1826. Not only that, but it was a woman.
  1827. God were women awful when they decided to be.
  1828. (Ethan Hawke)
  1829. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1830.  
  1831. [01:28] The pain Marceline inflicted only increased overtime. As long as the bug wasn't swatted down, she kept accumulating power. Gathering more dense flames as her emotions built. There wasn't any end in sight to her anger, ignoring even the pain of having her soul tugged on to keep fighting.
  1832.  
  1833. The final blow of this round was a burst of chilling ice that erupted from a trap that Marceline had set up, dousing Vavillion's flames and leaving them hindered. Though, her flames only came stronger with a second wind. Wings of flame extended from her back, accompanied by her ominous declaration. Marceline's response was another angered shout.
  1834.  
  1835. "I told you to shut up!"
  1836. (Marceline)
  1837. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1838.  
  1839. [01:31] What is it to be strong?
  1840.  
  1841. Mankind chased the ideal of strength, and yet, it was so abstract of a concept, it's very definition differed from person-to-person. Money, yells the impoverished man. Magical might, says another. It doesn't matter, one might bicker, embittered by that which he thought he could never attain.
  1842.  
  1843. But is it so crazy to assert that none in this world would turn down the opportunity to be strong? To be truly strong?
  1844.  
  1845. Man created the notion of God to explain the sky and the stars and the things that were beyond him, but so to does he endeavor always to reach ever higher, to blot out the sun with countless hands that reach toward and aim to clasp it in their grasp.
  1846.  
  1847. In a way...did that not mean that man always strove to be God?
  1848.  
  1849. Because only god can create a stone so large he cannot lift it, and lift it.
  1850.  
  1851. He who fights against the strongest and overcomes them, is the strongest. The strongest cannot be defeated.
  1852.  
  1853. Flames radiate from the volcano. They beat from her wings. Heat bares down from the sun. Pressures, internal and external ravage the combatants bodies as they pour their all into the climactic final battle, and Siegfried's palms singe, nerves deadened, barely reacting when he commands them to.
  1854.  
  1855. But rather than a shout, he stays behind a second longer than the rest, to make a promise to himself.
  1856.  
  1857. "I won't be on the losing end forever."
  1858.  
  1859. And then...
  1860.  
  1861. He is right behind them.
  1862.  
  1863. Let's do this.
  1864. (Siegfried)
  1865. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1866.  
  1867. [01:31] {NARRATION} You.
  1868. Can.
  1869. Do this.
  1870.  
  1871. Don't lose focus. Don't give up. To give up is to die.
  1872. [01:34] {NARRATION} KOs:
  1873. - - - - - - - - - - -
  1874. Ethan: 2
  1875. Esso: 4
  1876. Elayna: 3
  1877. Marceline: 2
  1878. Siegfried: 4
  1879. - - - - - - - - - - -
  1880. Elayna has landed the final blow. Injuries are doubled. Please roll a D6 now for injuries.
  1881. [01:37] {NARRATION} Marceline: Two 12 Day Temporaries OR One -10 Vit Perm
  1882. Ethan: Two 4 Day Temporaries
  1883. Elayna: Two 12 Day Temporaries OR One -10 Vit Perm
  1884. Siegfried & Esso: Both of you can take a -10 Vit Perm, or one of you can take a -20 Vit Perm
  1885.  
  1886. Decide now.
  1887. [01:41] {NARRATION} Esso. Are you taking -20, or are you both taking -10?
  1888. [01:43] ** Vavillion has inflicted an injury upon Ethan Hawke. ("Ripped Open Back", "Ethan Hawke was met by a smouldering collision of death-infused shadowflame and as such, his entire back has been ripped to shreds and burned where it wasn't sliced into bits.", "Temporary", "Duration: Medium (4 days)") **
  1889. [01:45] ** Vavillion has inflicted an injury upon Ethan Hawke. ("Death Infusion", "Ethan Hawke's previous interaction with Death Magic has been reactived - And thus the old wounds from the Ghoul King have once again started to deteriorate his arm and the inside of his body once again. It is only temporary, though - As the influx of force was not grand enough to reactivate it completely.", "Temporary", "Duration: Medium (4 days)") **
  1890. [01:54] {NARRATION} You may RP your victory now.
  1891. Esso has lost his arm in an effort to save Siegfried from the same fate.
  1892. [01:56] Their clash against the archon is quickly turned into a domination match that she handily wins. Ethan stands up, uses a grand show of wayfinding to bring all of them to the top of the volcano, and they fight again, this time taking the lead. Despite that, she proves exceedingly lethal, especially to the youngest and oldest among those present.
  1893.  
  1894. In one particularly jarring attack, Esso reflexively shoves Siegfried aside and his arm's caught in the blast; the brief pain of using the arm with the broken shoulder is notable, but suddenly there's nothing.. then an enormous, incomprehensible pain racks his body and he drops to the ground, his arm scorched off at the shoulder.
  1895.  
  1896. They took their victory and stopped the Archon, but it wasn't without a cost. Esso's consciousness wavers in and out for the next several minutes.
  1897. (Esso Invidia)
  1898. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1899.  
  1900. [01:59] This kind of battle wasn't one easily fought. Death magic roamed about, slamming into Ethan's form over and over - trying to pierce through his defenses no matter how tightly he held them. He was forced in a corner - his back facing the open maw of the volcano and his body barely even being able to stand on its own. His teeth came to a grit - his body falling on the receiving end of the hottest piece of magma he had ever seen. His eyes squinted. Flames danced around him, circling him and forcing itself right through his nullifying magic - searing his flesh and burning him up further than even Isaac had.
  1901.  
  1902. The effects of death magic being once more forced into his body were instant. Even through the sunyata tattoo that had been applied to seal away his wounds the old man could feel the surge of vile energies eating away at him once more. Devouring and hurting his very soul bit by bit.
  1903.  
  1904. But he had to hold on. He had to stand tall and strong - this archon was focused upon him and it gave his allies the best chance to take it down. This was it. This was the moment where their victory would come, where they would finally be free.
  1905.  
  1906. He held on further, waiting for someone— something to strike this monster down.
  1907. (Ethan Hawke)
  1908. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1909.  
  1910. [01:59] It was a dance... five beings of somewhat diversity all united to fight this one malevolent force.. this was what she fought for. This is what she was brought back for..
  1911.  
  1912. Blades flew, Occult sapped at them, lightning rained... plasma and fire scorched the dome of the peak. This was one of those moments, where a failure or success could cost countless or save them.
  1913.  
  1914. They were all bloodied, her allies and the Demon.
  1915.  
  1916. The golden storm brewed above, the clouds swirling in response...
  1917.  
  1918. The Archon's flames threatened to end them all... every one of them battered down from their previous fights to now.. something had to be done..
  1919.  
  1920. Amidst the cacophony of their battle, she runs forward... plasma blowing her defenses away... Ethan's illusions blinding her.. Siegfried and Esso's blades slashing her open..
  1921.  
  1922. She would only have one shot.
  1923.  
  1924. Every step she took her shield's light grew, her own light grew... she had ben brought her fora task.. and she was only just beginning to realize what it was.
  1925.  
  1926. Thera's words ring in her mind, over a decade ago now,
  1927.  
  1928. I went looking for a Shield, I found you. We can make a deal?
  1929.  
  1930. Then nigh but a couple of years ago,
  1931.  
  1932. I asked you to be my Shield Elayna… now I'm asking you to be Levengard's…
  1933.  
  1934. The distance closing, her light blinding she realizes her true purpose... The Archon wanted Agartha, The Fallen One wanted Agartha.. both would have to pass her.
  1935.  
  1936. "I am the Guardian of Agartha... you will not have my home."
  1937.  
  1938. Her shield is thrown, supercharged with the Lifestreams power the heavy impact much stronger than it should have been. The Archon finds herself hurled through the air to crash digging a furrow to mark her passing.
  1939.  
  1940. "This volcano was your prison... now it's your grave."
  1941.  
  1942. Her sword is raised, the storm flashes, with a heavy swing the blade its brought down. The heavens sound as if they wore torn asunder, a bolt of pure white lightning arcing from the swirling mass of clouds.
  1943.  
  1944. The bolt strikes the Archon where she lies, the assault blinding, fueled by the Spirit's raw desire to protect, and to end the miserable existence of one of Kraus' unfinished creations.
  1945.  
  1946. For moments nothing could be seen, the stone cracking beneath, the shockwave threatening to take loose objects away..... then finally as suddenly as it came.. it was over.
  1947. (Elayna Taranis)
  1948. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1949.  
  1950. [02:05] Recklessly charging in and out of combat against a death magi had it's consequences, ones that weren't entirely physical. Each time she got close, it was her very soul that was being tugged on. Her mortality was being tested, as she desperately clung onto life.
  1951.  
  1952. She had dealt her fair share of blows, and crippled the Archon. But, she was running out of steam now. Running out of life.
  1953.  
  1954. She had never been so close to tipping over the edge. So close, that she saw what was on the other side. Her vision blackened, her consciousness fading for a moment. Her life didn't flash before her eyes. It was simply nothing, an all encompassing void that enveloped her.
  1955.  
  1956. Marceline saw stars. Distant white lights, accompanied by shadowy figures that were on the same path as her. Her consciousness had reached another astral plane, able to see the rotting spirits of the dead around in a way that she had never experienced before.
  1957.  
  1958. It was a sad dream. Cold, and lonely. Her legacy unfulfilled.
  1959.  
  1960. Her consciousness returned to her body, unsure of how long she had been out. Marceline's grasp fumbled to reach for her staff, floating up to the skies and taking flight. Pain was the first thing to flood her senses. Everything burned, shadowflame embers having eaten away at her body.
  1961.  
  1962. And a throbbing headache, death magic having seeped into her mind and hijacking her enhanced senses. It was at that moment that she realized that what she saw wasn't a dream. Shadowy figures were seen drifting in every direction, tormented spirits that were densely packed in a place like this.
  1963.  
  1964. "I don't.. remember being able to see dead people.." she muttered, rubbing her head. "I'm going to be sick.." she groaned, eyes finding the Archon's now deceased body. It seemed that she had missed the final blow, but she awoke just in time to see something ominous.
  1965.  
  1966. Marceline watched as Vavillion's soul left her defeated corpse and ascended to the sky, a surreal image that would be burned into her mind forever. Her eyes trailed the image, slowly turning up.
  1967. (Marceline)
  1968. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1969.  
  1970. [02:09] {Item} Picked up a bag of 1000 dropped by Vavillion.
  1971. [02:09] {Item} You picked up Spire Shard. Dropped by Siegfried. .
  1972. [02:11] {Item} Picked up a bag of 1000 dropped by Vavillion.
  1973. [02:13] And yet, for him, there is no dramatic finish, nor is there a marvelous finale.
  1974.  
  1975. Out of his mind and in over his head, the boy is ravaged by the conditions under which they fought, pushing his body beyond a point that it could reasonably handle in order to carry on to the very end.
  1976.  
  1977. But the price of his folly is not his own.
  1978.  
  1979. Little does he know, Esso paid it.
  1980.  
  1981. A fact that, when he awoke, would haunt him for the rest of his life.
  1982. (Siegfried)
  1983. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1984.  
  1985. [02:18] {NARRATION} A final, thunderous crack of holy magic swirls from the heavens. The Archon had been thrown down into the ground from a blade slash from Esso, another from Siegfried. A burst of shadowflame temporarily overpowers her own, sending her skyrocking towards as a tesla carried her into a massive crater. Vamillion struggles to rise, she's trying to get to her feet. It's only then when the clouds part - Elayna is here to seal the final portion of her life.
  1986.  
  1987. Vamilion was released only to be quelled. This - Is irony.
  1988.  
  1989. A final scream is echoed out, her body quite literally disintegrating from the force of the judgement bestowed upon her. All but a single horn is erradicated. The Spire Shard she loved to indulge upon..
  1990.  
  1991. .. Those are all that survive.
  1992.  
  1993. (Event complete! Please follow me to return.)
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