[Plot] [Aq/Be/Oc/Oc] Week 132: Morning's Liturgy

[Dysney]

Ignis’ stomach churned when she saw it, but she couldn’t look away. This beast was fantastically grotesque and powerful. The engineer estimated this monster to be a little weaker than the dragon and a lot less intelligent than Ego. Ears ringing from the awful shriek the beast emitted, Ignis tightened her index finger in the trigger of her pistol as the engineer took aim. Her drone was quick to swoop ahead of her and aim several shots at the beast while it was down.

Dark eyes tracked the projectiles, searching for a weak point as the drone flew away from the flying demon in an abstract zig zag flight pattern. Pulse racing at a dizzying pace, Ignis started moving with the group toward the choke point. Her eyes strayed from their enemies just long enough to ascertain that she would not make a deadly misstep in the narrow pass. For good measure, she sent a pair of bullets at one of the hounds Catello had knocked over.

Spitefully, she hoped the demon hound wouldn’t get up. Sharp teeth dug into Ignis’ lower lip and her breath hitched. The engineer sucked in cool air through her nose, ignoring the scent of gunpowder and demon blood, and steeled herself. Heroes couldn’t be overwhelmed or freeze, no matter how many powerful enemies faced them.

“Any ideas for the big one?” Ignis called out, “I might be able to stun it if I get close, but I’ll need back up.” The avian couldn’t be sure this creature would freeze up like that basilisk she’d fought; anything that made sounds that awful probably didn’t have sharp ears. All the same, if she could keep it from attacking them for even a short while, it would be worth it. After all, heroes had to take risks, sometimes. The engineer had played it safe with Ego because he was an unknown factor, intelligent enough to be worried about and difficult to hit. This brute, while large and powerful, seemed to lack Ego’s cunning and evasive abilities.

Ignis wiped her tongue over her chapped lips and took a few more deep breaths to steady herself.

Amicus clung to her neck, already drawing on her magic. The familiar had learned that although his contractor could recognize that sometimes it was better to be careful, he would never truly get her to stop running into danger head first.

[398/1232]

stats

Used double tap for a 3 tier shot at one hound, regular 5 tier shot from Cora at the River Tiger thingamabob; 18,570 vigor remaining

 

[Shadowthread]

Did she ever stop to think about the odds of surviving, the athlete wondered as a quick sigh escaped him. Sure they might have been more numerous and facing probably a weaker adversary but regardless, there was no reason to be so foolhardy.

”I can probably blind it with a spell, but I need to get closer and I have a feeling they,” Dante nodded towards the hounds that had begun to spread around the plateau, ”Just wont let us approach it.”

Even though the athlete wanted to keep his distance from pure self-preservation, he was most effective asset from melee range, which considering the situation he was in quite unfortunate. The enlil's actions reminded the kinner about his promise to Deni and he spoke up.

”Hey, do not be so recklessly throwing yourself into unnecessary danger. He told me that you are too reckless for your own good. I think I see what he meant,” the pale laicar mused and presented his own question, ”Is there a way we can approach that without dealing with the hounds?”


[180/841]

 

[Nargles]

Dominic brusquely pulled himself away from Eamon, partially out of annoyance from the man’s weakness. “Get moving then, the rest of us will clear a path if you can’t do it yourself!” he spat. The mafioso continued to push his way forward, already taking note of the reappearance of the dogs. Before he could regain control the situation, the appearance of the River Tiger shocked him back to reality. With renewed fervor, he shouted for the rest of the group to continue moving before adjusting accordingly. As the dogs continued to swarm forward, Dominic fired a powerful blast out from the Carnifex. The shot aimed for the one closest to the retreating group. Before he could follow up with his second shot, the appearance of the River Tiger brought him a moment of pause. It was difficult to pinpoint what he was feeling at the beast’s monstrous appearance. Instead of unease, a sense of competition and the thrill of an imposing challenge overcame him. The hail of gunfire from Cora lead him to his next move. With another powerful shot, he cleanly fired a bullet a another of the growing horde of dogs. While the River Tiger was a thread through sheer, imposing force, the threat of simply being swarmed during their retreat was far more dangerous. “We took down five and more took their place immediately,” he shouted at Dante before turning to catch up with the retreating group. “It’s useless to even try to land a fucking shot on the beast while there’s a dozen of these dogs running around. If you’re going to just be deadweight with that sword then go to the healer.” Picking up speed through the chokepoint he continued, “Corvus, get rid of the hounds! Ignis when the dogs thin out, go in for the stun with us covering you.”

Shots

Carnifex and Aurit gun at two dogs.
5 Carnifex shot, 4 Aurit shot.

 

[Shadowwind]

The mafioso’s gunshots deafened Corvus but the laicar’s hands smoothly went after one of the arrows in his quiver. “I mean he can technically run at the thing,” the hunter began drawing his arrow, “the dogs will tear him to pieces but he will make it there I guess?” the frankness in Corvus’ voice was startling.


The vorax beside the hunter bristled at the new challenger, Catello growled while pawing at the ground. The hunter let out a small whisper on the wind, “Not yet boy, wait for an opening.” Flashes of the bloodied vorax from the pair's last demonic encounter danced in his mind’s eye and Corvus prayed that this would not be a repeat performance.

 

[K3]

Gunfire and howling chaos followed them as the party retreated. Every hound felled was swiftly replaced by fresh meat, blood-tinted maws betraying the fates of those the swelling tide had washed over. Cannibalism was no stranger to demons and devils, let the mortal flesh know what awaited them. The River Tiger bellowed and screeched, its squat legs producing hops that shook and cracked the ground as it jumped once, twice, thrice in attempts to clear distance. Alas, it was tragically immobile without more powerful jumps, and the prey was so close! Eamon swore loudly as the monstrous enemy emboldened the more numerous foes. Hellhounds broke rank and swarmed forward, leaving only the barest of berths for the River Tiger as they charged full-bore at the party. A long belch of gunfire flattened the first ranks of hounds, tripping those that followed. A moment later the hounds were upon them, gnashing teeth and blood-soaked blades flashing in a blender of hell-borne nightmares. The guard's saber flashed forward in time with Dante's sword, cutting down a pair that strayed too close. Behind them, Krista bowed her head and canted quietly. Clutched in her hands, an open vial of terra regia swirled as it was invoked. "Deep from the earth, the metal is drawn; Worked by the fires, and shaped to be strong. By the Bulwark's wings, Steel Pauldrons!" A gray pall fell across the enlil's hands, before it vanished – reappearing across Dante's shoulders. Two long, kite-shaped barriers stretched down the broadsword-wielding man's shoulders, until they edged just past his elbows. Still the growing horde gnashed and clawed forwards, until they threatened to cut off the narrow distance between the mercenaries and their only hope of escape. [ 284 / 3307 ]​

 

[Dysney]

Ignis barely acknowledged Dante’s warning. “He isn’t here right now, friend. Besides, there’s no point to surviving if you don’t live a little.” Her breath had quickened, eyes glittering with something between anxiety and excitement.

A platform formed beneath Dante’s feet without warning, the vines and branches lifting him into the air.

“We might need to worry about those hounds first...” The enlil hopped onto the platform beside him. “Get ready! Cover your ears!” she cried.

They surged forward and, to Dante’s dismay, Ignis leapt from the platform and landed in the midst of the hounds. Several of them turned towards her and prepared to lunge.

The platform with Dante rose higher in the air to get him out of the way.

The seemingly crazy enlil kicked a hound away from her. Then, smiling viciously, Ignis opened her mouth to emit a horrifying screech. The sound rivaled the River Tiger’s call in awfulness. It dragged on, challenging every single one of those beasts to a fight with her personally: Several against one.

Cora began shooting at demonic dogs before Ignis’ war cry ended, taking advantage of the distraction.

Ignis coughed as her voice gave out and dropped to one knee; coughs wracked her frame. Despite the stand up healing job Amicus had given her, her throat was still tender. Now, it was raw. She wheezed and forced herself to look around to see if her plan had worked, muscles tensing in preparation to leap away.

[245/1477]

Predation

Used a racial tech, Predation, in attempt to stun the hounds. It's a 3 tier binding affecting all targets within a 10 m radius. I tried to move Ignis far enough away that the rest of you might not be trapped. Also used another nifty Amicus shield. Dante is now in the air above the hounds in perfect position to follow up. 18,742 vigor remaining (had to account for miscalculated techs earlier)

 

[Shadowthread]

The athlete had almost lost his footing as the platform suddenly lifted him to the air. As she had warned the athlete had covered one of his ears to lessen the impact of her screech, while still keeping hold of his weapon. Mild anxiety creeped into the athlete's mind as he stood on the platform, would it disappear as suddenly as it had appeared, for now he could only hope for it not to.

Roughly fifteen, give or take a few, huh? The athlete quickly estimated the distance to the pack of hounds and once again grabbed some powder from the backpouch sprinkling it to the air in front of him as he manifested yet another portal, it greedily absorbing the lingering powder. It looked different than the one he had used before, a metallic triangle and it was tilted slightly downwards towards the demons as the athlete struck the portal's back, three thin bolts of energy shot forwards at one of the hounds.

Does she lack all sense of self-preservation? The athlete wondered as he witnessed Ignis' recklessness yet again.


[181/1022]

Notes

Spell Augmented with Auritium Pulveris - 3 bolts with magnitude 1 per.


Vigor Remaining : 2415/2815

ENERGY BURST
Basic - 150 Vigor
A thin bolt of green energy erupts from the portal, shooting for a target up to 50m away. Augmenting with Terra Regia increases the number of bolts fired by 1 bolt per grade, to a maximum of 6 bolts.

Portal: The portal has the appearance of an equilateral triangle made of metal and pointing downwards. The magic is pushed out by striking the back of the portal.

 

[Shadowwind]

Such noise, the hunter thought deridingly. Around them the jabbering of the hounds reached a fevered pitch while his companions sought to bring their talents to bear the laicar settled for a much more muted response. A showman he was not.


Calloused fingers found the haft of an arrow and plucked it with religious reverence from its quiver. As the hunter lined up a shot on one of the demons the crack of his bow was answered with a high pitched whistle.


Racing the projectile Corvus had fired, the vorax who had been waiting patiently by his side sprung into action find his own mark and delivering a savage bite toward the beast’s neck.

attacks

Tier 5 pewpew from Corvus + Tier 2 bite attack on another target from Catello.

 

[Nargles]

The ear-piercing screech echoed through the pass. Even though he was out of the way, the attack sent a shiver through his body. The piercing octave caused his teeth to jitter, his bones shaking through layer of muscle and flesh from the acoustic attack. However, while effective the assault was reckless. Dominic looked around, the gathered dogs and even the River Tiger pausing. Even if they were not stunned by the attack, all eyes were at least drawn for a moment towards the source. It was in this moment that the mafioso attacked. It was an equally risky move but the mobster was not known for any self-preservation instincts. He disappeared in a blink of an eye, a speed that only those devoted to the art of hand to hand combat could hope to achieve. Handguns gripped tightly in his hands, Dominic reappeared next to Ignis, all but shocking the woman with his surprise appearance. Before the dogs could even process his change of location, he began a flurry of attacks. He struck the first dog with a crippling blow to its skull, smashing the butt of the Carnifex with a sickening crack. In a continuous motion he fired a shot point blank towards the hound to his right, still reeling from the enlil’s attack. The bullet pierced clean through the dog’s neck as Dominic followed-up with a punch to its skull. He moved further, stepping to the left and firing another shot at the third closest canine. Once again he followed up with a devastating pistol-whip from the Carnifex to the side of the beast’s skull. The dogs collapsed backwards, Dominic panting with exhaustion from the attacks. “Get up and go through!” he shouted to Ignis before sprinting towards the pass. Though risky, the pass was their only hope through stemming the tide of beasts. With blistering speed he lead the charge through. He could only hope the others would keep up.

 

[K3]

The ear-splitting cry of Ignis' ancestry was tumult for the hounds, and they fell away baying and whimpering. The River Tiger reared back, but even its might seemed momentarily cowed by the primal shriek. The moment was all the advantage the group needed, and a flurry of attacks sprung forth to cut down the meat of the hell-borne tide. The flashes and pop-pop of gunfire signaled the success of Dominic's foray, joined a moment later by Ignis. The pair found themselves quickly surrounded, but the clever intrusion of Catello – a hellhound neck still clenched between blood-drenched fangs – bowling through their masses. Falling back swiftly, the party reunited as a broad sweep of Dante's broadsword swept away another pair of hounds, the large kite-shaped shields affixed to his upper arms glancing away another that attempted to skewer him with its bladed snout. Eamon's sabre lashed forwards, and the beast was taken through an eye and fell over, unmoving. The stragglers continued to band and reconstitute; an ever-reforming mass that shrunk but never split as the hounds pressured the group ever-closer to the edge of the clearing. Behind the party lay the large sheer chasm that separated the mountainous path from the beach-head. A little to their left, the next section of the pass itself would take them to the next clearing. It would be dangerous and beneficial in turn: with less space to maneuver, the hounds could be bolder in their attacks; but so too could they only attack in limited numbers. Whoever took up the rear guard would have their hands full, and of course... The braying screech of the River Tiger punctured the adventurers' ears once more, and the beast curled itself inwards, thoroughly frustrated by its agile prey. The sharp, stone-rough spikes that lined its back blended masterfully into the rocky terrain, but the curling of its hind legs gave away its intent. If the River Tiger caught them, the prospects of surviving a fall down the cliff-side weren't favorable. Worse, if it blocked off their only means of finding the other guards, the entire purpose of their mission would be rendered moot. The decision had to be made now. [ 362 / 3669 ]​

 

[Dysney]

Ignis twitched when the mafioso appeared at her side and straightened up, forcing air into her lungs. It hurt to breathe, but she kept sucking in the cold, dry air through her nose, nostrils flaring a bit each time. She could smell and taste copper; the avian's nose was bleeding slightly, blood trickling onto her upper lip. Her hood had fallen. Numbly, she yanked it up over her head.

Gunshots echoed in Ignis’ ears, but it seemed far away. The pounding in her ears and head and racing thoughts rushed to the forefront of her consciousness. Everything seemed to move in slow motion.

The mechanist’s eyes locked into the biggest threat just as Dominic shouted that they needed to get out.

Amicus summoned the platform from where it hovered in the air, bringing Dante with it. Before Ignis could get any bright ideas about attacking the River Tiger, he pinched her, prompting the avian to jump onto the leafy platform. The enlil gripped the edge and hauled herself up, using the momentum from her jump to pull herself onto the rising platform.

Cora fired off more shots at the river tiger while Ignis was whisked away.

Panting, Ignis collapsed gracelessly next to Dante and grinned.

[205/1682]

 

[Shadowthread]

The athlete took a quick glance around before grabbing the enlil's hand and pulling himself onto the platform. Sheathing his sword and slinging it back over his shoulder the athlete exhaled a deep breath as he stood up on the platform, even if he had not done much of the fighting the kinner felt the exhaustion creeping in but she was in far worse shape and it made him feel as if he had failed in keeping watch over the enlil like he had promised to Deni.

”O wondrous light, I beseech thee to mend these wounds,” Dante prayed as he put his hands above Ignis' head. The soothing light glowed forth from his left hand and over the enlil as the pair swooped around the pass. Hoping that his spell would ease her breathing, his own breathing grew slightly heavier as a result.

In his mind the athlete had begun to doubt the odds of succesfully completing their mission as more variables presented themselves to the party.

[169/1193]

Notes

Vigor Remaining : 2215/2815

Casted Mend on Ignis with magnitude of 1.
MEND
Basic - 200 Vigor
One of the caster's hands begins to glow bright white. Heals one flesh wound on a target within 10m, over the course of three rounds. Ineffective on fractures and burn wounds. Augmenting with Terra Regia increases the magnitude by one tier per grade, to a maximum of 6 tiers. If the total magnitude exceeds the spell's minimum by five tiers, one additional wound is healed, plus one for each five tiers beyond that.

Prayer: O wondrous light, I beseech you to mend these wounds.

 

[Nargles]

While Dominic pushed forth, he paused for a moment to look back at the rest of the group. Corvus, Catello, and Krista were still further back. The River Tiger on their heels, the pace was anemic compared what they needed to be. A portion of the dogs leaped forward, spurred on by the chase they approached with renewed fervor. In a sharp turn, Dominic changed course back towards the stragglers. With a precise shot, he the Carnifex fired off with a bang. The explosion echoed throughout, the shot fired towards the dog closest on to the remaining group. “Faster through the pass!” he barked and order. Taking station behind them, he began to backpedal in order to keep the approaching force on their toes as he pushed in behind through the pass. With a second shot towards another encroaching dog, he hoped to suppress the beasts for at least the time being until they made it through.

 

[K3]

Events in the pass accelerated, the expectant maw of the River Tiger leaving a wet trail of saliva beneath the horrid creature as it dragged itself towards the narrow pass. Dogs yipped and snarled more ferociously, blood-frenzy upon them as their prey fell back. The winter chill seemed far away as the mercenaries' blood ran hot and fast in the din of battle. Dominic's ears were ringing, even as he ushered the group past him – Catello taking the next-to-last spot as the mafioso himself insisted upon taking the rear – and onto the next section of narrow corridors that would lead to the next plateau. Raising his sidearms one after the next, each staggered shot felled an oncoming beast. Then, an awful sound accompanied with an awful realization: click/i]. In his haste to make mayhem and control the situation, Dominic had neglected to note his own actions. The shot, still lined up against a third hound, never came. He stared dumbly for a moment at the empty handgun, then swore as the hound was upon him with two more on its heels. To Dante and Ignis, whom lacked the vantage necessary to see the ongoing developments, the pass was a welcome reprieve of action. Eamon moved with haste and purpose, gripping his saber with a white-knuckled hand as he kept close to the mountain wall that was to his right, running his other along it as he went. Krista was all-too-happy to be relieved of her duties for a moment, though she started rather suddenly at Dante's proficiency in the words and names of Castus. Her talons clutched at the catalyst around her neck worriedly, and under her breath she began prayers for the safety of the remaining officers they had yet to find. Corvus found himself feeling oddly numb by the whole situation. So much so that, when Dominic's cry went up, it was precious seconds before he brought himself to react. The violence was alike to the night they had spent at Ego's mercy, but never had he encountered such monsters in such numbers. They were less of a pack and more of a host; an ever-growing swarm that seemed to lack an end. Reaching for his bow as his addled mind processed his comrade's distress, he blinked slowly a few times before he was shook by an accompanying bray from his vorax companion. Eyes clearing, the ranger swung himself atop the carnivore's back and withdrew three arrows from his quiver. Nocking one, he quickly turned it onto the scene and – expectedly – fired unhesitatingly. Dominic had been on his back, a leg drug out from under him and leaving him frighteningly exposed. One arm came up, catching the hound that had thrown itself at him in the jaw as its bladed snout raked across his collar. Hissing in pain, he felt his leg be released as Corvus' great-arrow bowled over the hound still attached to his pant-leg. A gash, wide but shallow, could be seen through the torn garment. The scent of fresh blood only encouraged them more, and if Corvus strained his eyes, he could see the tightly-curling form of the River Tiger still on the plateau they had come from. [ 533 / 4202 ]​

 

[Dysney]

Once Ignis caught her breath, she grinned at Dante. “Thanks. I was fine though, hardly a scratch.” She pushed herself into a sitting position, wincing when her familiar pinched her.


The athlete gave her a dubious look. “The little guy seems to agree more with me judging from his reaction,” he chuckled briefly.


“Ah, that's just Amicus being a worrier. He's like that.” The avian swatted her familiar’s branchy hand away before he could have or pinch her for her sass.


“It was just a sore throat.” She coughed harshly. “I hate doing that.” Ignis ran a hand through the messily cropped feathers atop her head before pulling the hood to her cloak back up. The avian felt safer with it up. She glanced back at the River Tiger.


“We really ought to do something about that thing… maybe if we got closer,” the enlil mused, as if Dante hadn't already warned her to take caution.


“Oh no missy, you’re not going anywhere near that thing!” the athlete replied as he stuck his arm in between the beast and the enlil. Her recklessness really knew no bounds and he would have to risk his own skin in order to keep her from getting herself in trouble that she could not get out of.


Ignis’ eyebrow twitched, but she settled down to the kinner's relief. She was getting too excited, too caught up in the adventure. After all, how often did an engineer get to go on rescue missions?


Remembering the last time she helped rescue someone made the avian sober up. Her smile faded a bit and she bit her lower lip.


“Okay, you're right. If we want to stop that thing from following us we can't take it head on. It's too strong. Do you have any other tricks up your sleeve?”


“I guess…” the athlete mused and was in thought, “maybe a blinding flash could work?” He was a bit unsure of himself, actual battles with lives on the line were not the athlete’s forte. He was more used to the pressure of competitions. Strategizing quickly and thinking on his feet were familiar, but not this level of deadliness.


He brushed that aside. “Need to get a bit closer for my spell to reach though.”


Ignis nodded. The platform beneath them slowed and reversed directions to take them towards the River Tiger.


“What spell do you have in mind?”


“Star Shriek Blast, it emits blinding light for a moment,” the athlete explained.


“How close do we need to be?”


“Roughly thirty meters or so, “ The athlete explained with a ponderous look on his face.


Ignis nodded as their approach slowed. She narrowed her eyes, trying to judge the distance.


“How's this?”


“Should be fine,” the athlete confirmed and pulled out some powder from his back pouch, littering it in the air just in front as a star shaped portal was willed into being by the athlete. He felt tingling in his arm as he grabbed a roughly fist sized light ball from it.


“Uh,” briefly glancing over to Ignis, “You might want to cover your eyes with something, it’s gonna get bright soon,” he finished. Dante threw the spell at the River Tiger effortlessly just after Ignis squeezed her eyes shut.

[247]
[296]

 

[swaswj]

White light erupted from Dante's spell, searing into the eyes of all who failed to look away. The River Tiger gave a guttural yowl of dismay while the baying of stunned hounds rose up all around them. A single flash couldn't hope to catch everything, however, and still they could hear the scrabbling of claws over stone.

Above the sound of the pained beasts and the ravenous hunters, however, there came a distant call of, "That way! West!"

In mere moments, the first armored man charged around a bend in the pass, a halberd gripped at the ready. He was adorned with the familiar blue tabard of the Conexus, of the guards of Terminus. Behind him came several others, then a dozen, a small battalion!

Without question, they swept in, swinging polearms and firing rifles, filling the air with the scent of burnt gunpowder and spilled blood.

From the throngs, a tall, grey-feathered enlil pushed ahead to the group. "Praise Bellator that you lot can fight!" he called out. "Lieutenant Gallas! You must have just left before we arrived in Navale, and we followed after as quickly as we could. I salute your bravery, but I'd rather not lose any more brave souls to these foul creatures!" A wry grin bared the avian's wickedly-curved teeth. "Let's show these bastards some firepower!"

His men weren't waiting, continuing to cut their way through the daemon hounds as they rushed in, fearlessly heading toward the monstrous River Tiger.

[250/250] Final

Notes

Honestly, this thread deserves a better ending, but this is all I can give you right now. If you want, you're welcome to add any closing turns before this week closes.

Essentially, Terminus has sent about 600 members of the Arcanum, Conexus, and Fraternitas on their way to Krevati. Upon reaching Navale and finding out that a few brave souls went on a heroic rescue mission, Lieutenant Gallas of the Conexus took a few dozen of his men to go support you. They do not know who you are.

 

[Dysney]

At the sound of more shouts and unfamiliar voices, Ignis cracked an eye open. Once she saw that the bright light from Dante’s spell was fading, she peered down at the guards rushing the River Tiger. “Looks like the cavalry is here. It would be fun to go with them, but I’m not so sure they’d welcome the company.”

He breathed a sigh relief as the enlil suggested a retreat. The others would probably survive thanks to the sudden reinforcements, nodding towards her.

“Let’s fall back, we’d probably just be in the way of the professionals,” the athlete claimed with a slight pause before continuing, “Land us somewhere safe nearby. I’d rather walk than fly on this thing.”

Ignis frowned, but nodded. She brightened up a second later. “Sure. I'll drop you off.”

[74/2003]

[59/1547] Final