[TWFNE] Week 226: Inner Light

[Abbey Rose]

The demon sprang forward out of the rubble, moving around to the right, chains dangling and jingling as they scraped off the ground. It laughed in macabre humor at the carnage. It was glad to be chosen, and now it had chosen its soft prey. A small portal appeared in front of its finger yet again, a thin green line lancing out over the fissure and towards the caster.

Meanwhile, encased in the sphere of darkness, Cassius heard the sounds of combat. He especially heard the sound of the daggers flying up above his face, way too close for comfort. Self-preservation kicked in and he started moving, his body half-rolling, half crawling up and out of the darkness.

“Fuck fuck fuck.” His arm burned. Was this what getting stabbed felt like? And people just did this regularly? The mage figured they all were insane, but if they wanted to do it instead of him, that was fine.

Finally, light swept through his vision as his left hand touched the edge of a pillar. He used it as a prop, scrambling up to his feet and peeking around it. He quickly abandoned the peek as his eyes caught the absolutely maddening melee that was taking place.

Turning his head, he saw the rogue. It was staring at him, knife in hand. His hand swept out towards it, gathering the energy for a spell together. Even while he did this, his other hand sought out a dark blue stone in his pocket, it’s cold surface icy but welcoming to him. He channeled energy into it even as he took energy out of it, Cold filling him while a ghostly warmth encased it.

His eyes met the rogue’s, and he waited, hand outstretched, panting.


648

GUILD STUFF

Used Guild Item to gain 500 Vigor!
Used Dormio to store a copy of Flame Burst (Mag 3)!
Imp cast energy burst (mag 4)
Net Gain of 250 Vigor

 

[MoonlitRain014]

Diamantus kept her powerful frame contained, not flailing around in the darkness. There was a soft "whoosh" and the air moved around her. A moment later there were two solid thumps and a loud grunt of pain came from the velen's tightly clamped mouth as two of the rogue's daggers struck her. One hit her shoulder and the other her forearm, but she gritted her teeth and bulled forward, face set in grim lines as the light began to rise around her.

Now her sharp eyes came into focus on Cassius and the rogue. In spite of the pain in her right arm, she still drew her pistol with her left. A good gunslinger could shoot with either hand. Her gaze remained focused on the target, but she didn't move. It was Cassius' turn to act. Her response would merely follow.

[1092]

 

[Nargles]

::2::​ The fragile caster was swept up by Keydis’ attack, acrid blood oozing onto the woman’s hand. The enlil’s hands drooped to the side, the growing sparks prevented from intensifying for now. From this close, Keydis had a clear view of the being’s face. Several lacerations ripped and tore across her neck, rotted flesh oozing out from the impact. Her body felt light and limp, only stiffening to act when called upon. Oddly, the headstrong girl could have sworn she heard voice whisper into the very air around them. "Behind!" As the duo flew across the ravine, the woman’s head snapped back. The wound on her neck opened further. The ghastly visage locked eyes with readied Aeria. Bright bursts of yellow light illuminated her eyes, the predatory instinct welled out sending shivers down the polearm fighter’s spine, causing her to falter. “Succendam auferet in ventum torquent…” a strained whisper echoed out of the caster’s throat. Matching the furiosity of Keydis’ attack, a hurricane of wind erupted around the pair. For a moment, they were suspended carefully within the eye of the storm. The caster shifted her weight, as the two rotated clockwise. The crackle of the imp’s energy blast broke the bliss. The arcane energy grew in intensity as a second gust of wind propelled the two away from the energy blast. The two hurtled towards the southwest pillar, Keydis first! The heavy blows dented deep within the paladin’s armor. The spurii’s pummeling seemed to strike true as the paladin hurtled towards the ravine. Reaching towards his neck, he grasped a necklace consisting of three interlocking steel rings. A heavy bass shouted: “A fortress lonely and watchful. Break on it!” A thick pillar of steel jutted from the ground at the edge of the ravine. With a heavy thud, he slammed against the barrier, which cracked at the sheer weight and force. Unperturbed, he glared at Aelflead once more. Eyes focusing on the planted shield in front of him, he dashed forward with startling speed. As he grasped the weapon, he suddenly accelerated to slam Aelflead with the full force! Meanwhile, Cassius’ eyes widened as the rogue raised her dagger. The runic markings began to glow a blood red. As she struck down at him with full force, he winced and braced for the pain. A cold air filled his lungs, but no pain followed. Her form simply phased through the young spellcaster. A fighter’s instinct broke Aeria out of her stupor just as the rouge aimed her blade straight at her neck from behind.

[1494]

Notes

The rogue has revealed the true copy to be the one to the WEST.

Paladin: Aelf

The paladin took the brunt of the attacks and lanched towards the edge. He casts iron bastion to form a barrier behind him in order to stop him from falling off. He then recovers, rounds to pick up his tower shield and then uses [ Reckless Charge ] to move very fast and slam into Aelf. Total magnitude: 6.

Caster: Aeria, Keydis

Caster got stabbed and launched over by Keydis. However, as the rogue was running west, she see's Aeria preparing her followup attack and communicates this to the caster.

Locking eyes with Aeria as she readied her attack, the caster used [ Raptor Glare ] to paralyze her and prevent her from following up with her prepared move.

Keydis and the caster are then suddenly suspended in air as a magic wind surrounds them both (you know what spell this is Will). After hovering for a brief moment, a sudden blast of air propels the two violently towards the southwestern pillar, the caster turning in midair to slam Keydis into the pillar first.

Rogue: Aeria, Cass, Dia

Turns out the one Cass was facing was an illusion all along. It mimics the strike the real rogue is performing on Aeria. This is a [ Sneak Attack ] attacking Aeria suddenly from behind at a strength of 8 magnitude. Cassius is unharmed and can now tell that this one is an illusion.

 

[MoonlitRain014]

From a body that had been frozen in terror to a body in motion, every nerve fibre and muscle in Aeria fired off at once as she whirled, pivoting around to slap the flying blade out of the air with the flat of her halberd’s blade. Immediately all of the muscles in her thighs bunched and she erupted forward, driving the sharp point of the halberd right at the rogue’s face.

As the paladin moved against Aelflead, Diamantus’ arm snapped out rapidly, following her blue eyes that trained keenly on the steel barrier that had erupted from the ground. Angling her gun, head swiveling to compensate, her finger squeezed on the trigger and sent a bullet towards the barrier. If everything went right, said bullet would ricochet to strike the paladin the back of the head.
[1229]

Aeria Note

Comfort Zone
Requires
Any Melee Weapon
Cost
0 Vigor
Range
Melee
Frequency
Constant
Magnitude
Weapon
A common preconception among warriors is that the weakness to a polearm is getting inside its range, where the wielder is then helpless. However, skilled Lancers have worked through this glaring weakness, improving their grips and footwork, shifting and angling their weapons to continue attacking and defending even in close combat with no noticeable dip in efficacy.

A Lancer can fight equally well in any melee range, and upon attacking or defending during any given round, a Lancer may move 1m in any direction with no loss of skill, stance, or awareness. Requires a melee weapon.

Dia Note

Ricochet

Novice Tier
Requires
Any Ranged Weapon
Cost
400 Vigor
Range
30m
Frequency
Once per Round
Magnitude
Weapon
When the going gets tough, the tough get going, or so the saying goes. For a Duelist, this means being able to place shots in the most ridiculous of circumstances. Those who accumulate a keen enough eye and a certain strength of the wrist can angle a shot just so, allowing it to bounce off solid surfaces to hit at unusual angles.

This ability costs 400 Vigor, usable once per round. The user fires a shot which can ricochet up to 45 degrees after striking a solid object. Requires a ranged weapon.

 

[Keydis Lysistrata]

For one terrifying moment, an irrational fear flared up in Keydis, that the power of her sword had been stolen away and turned against her. Just as quickly as she recognized it as something else, she felt her head smack into the pillar. A hot bloom of pain radiated through her head and down her back, nausea welling up from the combination of it and the poison.

Her sword was still in her hand, though, and Keydis twisted it, still impaled in the enlil spellcaster. With that twist, she ripped it outward, slicing through flesh, rotted, decrepit flesh, and robes of moth-eaten, dingy, frayed cloth.

Keydis knifed her other arm toward the enlil's throat and then she couldn't hold back anymore: she doubled over and vomited.

[125/860]

Notes

Two attacks, nothing fancy.

20000/30000 Vigor spent

 

[Mystydjinn]

CLUNK! Went the sound of metal plate armor on stone.

"For fuck's sak-Ungh!" Went the air leaving Aelflead's lungs.

Caught off guard by the speed of the dead behemoth's charge, the spurii had no time to react and instead took the shield rush head on, catching the paladin's charge like a stone wall and wrapping her hands around the edges of the shield. A spike of pain shooting through her chest and the sound of an ugly crack reverberating in her ear immediately followed as further punishment for the second of relaxed focus she'd allotted herself.

So fueled as much by frustration as it was by instinct, the spurii shoved back against the dead paladin, fighting for control of the grapple she hadn't expected. In the midst of this she swung, looking to weaken the hulking thing's constitution where she could and felt herself warming again. Not just the metal sitting in her hand, but her whole arm now had grown hot in her sleeve.

[165/750]

ruff n tuff

Skilled Puglilis + Auritium knuckle dagger/trench knife thing - Primary attack = 5 mag block

Skilled Puglilis + Auritium knuckle dagger/trench knife thing - Secondary attack = 4 mag jab

Aelf's testing the ghoul's poise to see where it's stance is unstable/weaken it's stance.

 

[Abbey Rose]

Cassius spared only a moment to thank his luck. He could feel the pressure in the phylactery that he had made. The demon within called. It was a lethargic beast, trapped in its cold prison. He had forced it into a task, but it was not something he could hold for long.

So he didn’t. Instead he ducked around the pillow further, the mage’s eyes searching for a target. A small arcane portal began opening in has hand, it’s normally cool metal surface covered in a layer of frost. His eyes locked on the mage currently locked in melee combat with Keydis, and while a small shudder of sympathy washed through him at the thought of being trapped in a corner against her, he still brought the semi-frozen portal up and send a screech of fire screaming towards the side of his enemy.


After that, he stepped back, moving past Dia and away from the center of the fighting, only pausing to spout a brief blessing over the gunslinger as he moved. Brief as it was, healing energies began to wash over the woman, a cold icy blue glow matching the light of the necklace that glowed out from under Cassius’ shirt.


[202/850]

”Notes"

Unleashed FIRE BOLTO at tier 3 (Base + 1 for Novice + 1 for Catalyst) at the Mage (Big orb of blackness means that he still can’t see the rogue). Also cast Tier 4 mending (Base + Tier 2 cata + 1 for Novice) at Diamantus to clean her up because she’s the only target in range. Moved away from fight. Demon is holding for now. Only used 100 Vigor this turn!

 

[Nargles]

As Aeria struck towards the rogue’s body, for she could have sword she saw a coy smirk crack across her decaying visage. With a deft movement, she slashed at her belt, as dozens of vials clattered and smashed against the ground. The spear passed through her body, the illusory veil broke as her form rippled away from view. She reappeared to where her clone once stood, twirling the knife in her hands once more. The shattered vials of poison and powders erupted in a cacophony of released alchemical spells. One after another, the spells engulfed Aeria point-blank! The paladin raised its shield against the first of spurii’s attacks, batting it away deftly with its massive shield. The second, quick strike caught the bulwark off guard with a devastating gut punch. In rehearsed tandem, Diamantus’ bullet lodged itself into the back of the animated being’s head, it jerking forward violently. As if prepared for this very moment, brilliant gold light erupted out of both wounds. Spectral tendrils stitched across each would in an instant, sealing them up nicely for the moment. The young mage was battered one after another. The bolt of flame slammed into its temple, while Keydis' blade dug deep into her torso. Breath escaped the punctured lung, as the second strike aimed to garrote her throat. “Ad… undas…” In a defiant act of rebellion, the wizard raised their hand towards the sky, releasing the last of its magic power into the spell. As life faded from the body once more, the earth began to quake. The paladin and rogue both glanced skywards. The trickster ran to the far edge of the room, as far from the center as possible in a blink of an eye. The warrior pushed off Aelflead, retreating fifteen feet away from the dazed woman. Slamming his shield into the ground once more, he clasped both hands in prayer. A brilliant barrier tessellated around his body in a dome, surrounding him completely. The sky above them all broke open. Though far weaker than original expected, the heavy feeling of magical energy weighed upon them. A glyph of crimson descended from the black void, the ground now shaking even more violently. A titanic comment descended from the void; the vengeance of a dying mage.

[1879]

Notes

Rogue: Aeria

I'm unsure how Comfort Zone gives you the ability to magically detect that someone is sneaking up behind you through several layers of illusion spells to hit a sneak attack silently but whatever.

The rogue uses [ Legerdemain of Occultus ] to dodge Aeria's attack and swap back with her clone. In the process, she unhooks her belt to dump her prepared alchemical bottles on the ground.

This has activated the following spells in front of Aeria: Sunrise (a flashbang), Fog (15m fog cloud around Aeria), and Diamond Dust (A 5 tier binding that freezes her if hit).

In reaction to the mage, she then runs far towards the south wall.

Paladin: Aelf/Dia

The paladin blocks Aelf's first strike but takes the second as a gut punch. He gets shot in the head but immediately uses Stasis Binding to halt the wounds. Also he's a zombie that feels no pain. In reaction to the mage, he moves back 15 feet and activates [ Shield of Faith ] to protect himself.

This is an 8 tier shield around himself.

Mage: Everyone

Mage has died but in a last ditch effort, the spell being focused on was released. It's much weaker than what it was originally planning to be as people prevented him from building alot of power into it.

It casts [ Ala Morn ] to summon a giant comet that is going to slam directly into the center of the arena. Getting hit point blank... will probably kill you because it's a meteor. The damage decays as you leave the center of the area. At the far edges of the room you'll take around 2 tiers of damage. The closer you are to the center, the more you'll take. I'll leave this up to your judgement but I'd say it decays at a rate of (15 tiers (point blank), 12 tiers (little out of the way), 8 tiers (moderately far away) , 5 relatively far away, 2 (far edge of the room)).

 

[Keydis Lysistrata]

Everything was happening all at once, too fast for Keydis to keep up: a flash of searing light and rushing smoke to one side, bullets flying, magic flowing. Spitting to try to remove the taste of bile from her tongue, Keydis lifted her head and stared up at the forming meteor. The blood drained from her face. "Couldn't take the loss with dignity, you rotting bastard?!" she yelled at the corpse in front of her.

Aeria, right. Lost somewhere in a fog. Cassius and Diamantus, across the room. Too far, and probably safer than she was. Aelflead, left. Too far... but maybe.

Keydis slammed her sword into its sheath and ripped open the buckle to the straps on her right arm. As they loosened, the woman snarled to stifle the groan of pain: a second arm blade grew out of her right arm. Blood dripped down from her forearm, but Keydis ignored it and shouted, "Hey, halfer!"

She moved into a run, shaky at first, but soon gaining some sort of stride. She threw both arms out wide, one pointing toward Aelflead, one aiming high on the outer wall. Both arm blades shot simultaneously.

[200/1060]

Notes

Arun, that turn, it physically wounds me.

Keydis is using her magnum to launch one of her arm-blades toward Aelflead, and the other high up the outer wall. If Aelflead is hit by the blade or grabs it, she'll reel Aelflead up with her -- with the AoE being ~2 magnitude near the outer wall, ground level, being 30-45m high up the wall should be safe. If Aelflead refuses, Keydis isn't waiting and will hookshot to safety on her own.

Vistra ability Jaculum x4, Magnum - 1200 vigor

21,200/30,000 Vigor spent

 

[MoonlitRain014]

Light erupted with a brilliant flare and a deafening bang in front of Aeria as a thick fog simultaneously boiled up to cloak the spurii. Instinctively she drove her legs into the ground and flung herself away from the noise and fog. Now she was running, legs pumping and body stumbling. Her left arm went numb and dead, even as she clutched her halberd in the right. A deep roar filled the air and the spurii fell, rose and stumbled on again in blind, directionless flight.

Despite the chaos and confusion, Diamantus’ keen eyes remained focused on the paladin, her face betrayed no feeling and her hands were steady on her pistols. As the paladin began to chant a prayer, she opened fire on his shield as she ran back away from and to the side of the paladin. The sharp report of the gunfire filled the room with echoes even as the comet descended towards them all.

[1387]

 

[Mystydjinn]

Left stumbling from the paladin's sudden flight, the heat that'd been bubbling in Aelflead's arm was extinguished with surprise as the room rapidly snapped into focus. Everyone was running for a wall but the paladin. Where is everyone go-? The redhead looked up.

Oh.

Unsure of where it had come from, but lacking the time to play sleuth, Aelflead decided running from the plummeting meteor was the most appropriate course of action to take. As she turned on her heel though, the *squelch* of metal parting flesh, followed by the brunette caught her ear.

"Hey, halfer!" Came her call while she sprinted for the edge of the room, followed by her violet hook flying into the redhead's grabbing range immediately after.

A slew of thoughts ran through Aelflead's mind in response to this; You're a vistra? And, Has she had those this whole time? But indignation won out over confusion and she snapped, "I have a name!" In answer while her fist snapped shut around the offered chain.

WC: [166/916]

 

[Cassius Colonnade]

Cassius looked up to the comet crashing down on him and swore. The safest point from the comet was occupied by an enemy, one that had already proven itself the better at close combat between the two of them.


He took a quick moment to glance at the small imp. It continued laughing and dancing, throwing another green bolt at the dome of the paladin, causing the smallest of cracks to appear on the surface. The mage looked up, doing some quick math as the comet crashed down.


An idea formed.


For the first time since his arrival into the room, Cassius grinned. He flung his own green bolt at the paladin, furthering the crack that his demonic companion had put into it.Then, he ran up and away from both the paladin and the rogue. His other arm flung out, pointing at neither enemy, but rather at his imp.


“Bound by chalice, both you and I.” Cassius intoned. “Authority I’ve gained, though I know not why. With this power, I do command. Take my wounds, until the end!” With the last syllable of the chant, he felt something click, and saw a look of surprise wash over the imp’s face.


Then the comet landed, turning the world, for a moment, white.

”Notes”

Tier 5 attack from Cassius with Energy Burst. Tier 3 attack from Demon with Energy Burst. Both directed at the shield. Then Cassius uses Agony Link, forcing all his damage this turn to be redirected to the demon. He runs away from the paladin and the corner the rogue is in. Total vigor spent: 450. Total vigor left: 800.


I’ll update my spellsheet in the new thread.

 

[Nargles]

The catastrophe descended from the heavens, a deafening roar echoing as the comet struck the ground. The earth shook violently, chunks of marble breaking off the walls. Dust and heat filled the room. The paladin grasped his hands tighter in acknowledgement of what was to come as the litany of attacks shattered the glass-like barrier. Thank you… a whisper filled Cassius’ mind. As Aeria began to flee, the third flask caught her off guard. The air twinkled for an instant before the cone of cold collapsed in on her. The fog cloud was dissipated by the shockwave of the comet, chunks of molten rock raining down upon her. The imp’s eyes dilated in horror as its body began to contort. Its skin was flayed by the heat, organic matter bubbling away. Cassius escaped unharmed but his demon was nowhere to be seen. Aelflead and Keydis were braced against the wall. The two moved with deft precision, dodging the smaller bits of debris. The deluge of rock scrapped past them, though the two simply gritted their teeth and fought through. Almost as fast as it appeared, the scene calm once more. Bellator’s rage was tempered and an uneasy silence filled the room. The paladin’s body was burnt to a crisp and reduced to a pile of ash. Aeria’s body was wracked with heavy impact wounds. The heat singed her body with large burns. However, for the moment, her body was still incased within the Diamond Dust. Cassius gasped, gathering his breath from the sudden burst of physical activity. The thief looked bruised and battered, though still standing from her place of relative safety. Silver gleamed in the corner of the young mage’s eyes as a dagger plunged towards his neck.

[2168]

Notes

Aeria took heavy damage because she ignored the flask of Diamond Dust and was caught early in her escape. The others took minimal to no damage in Cassius' case. The paladin is dead. Aeria is wounded (caught in the 8 tier zone) but stuck in a Diamond Dust binding (around 6 tiers strong).

The rogue is alive and next to Cass who ran up to her. She's launching a 3+3 (6 tier) of damage knife strike.

 

[Abbey Rose]

The mage’s eyes went wide and he tried to dodge, tried to do something. His right hand went to his necklace. Fingers started to grasp and draw a rune.

No time.

Caught mid dive, he felt rather than saw the cold steel enter his left clavicle. Cold as it was, it felt like white hot fire. Cassius cried out. Fear of death flashed through his mind, almost losing whatever little concentration he had. HIs soul forfeit, his body forgotten. It would be an ignoble end to the boy.

But then he was gone, and watching himself getting stabbed.

It was all he could do to keep from screaming again. It looked as painful as it felt, even if the tiniest part of him was proud that the echo of himself could bleed like that. His hand clasped his new wound, blood still seeping out. He wanted to at least call upon the magic of Castus to try and hide, but the rogue might hear him and look up, and the extra second of her stabbing the illusion might be what he needed to live.

”Ow’

Mage is tired, and isn’t good at quick reacting, so got fucking stabbed. He uses the spell Echo in his catalyst to prevent any followup attacks, teleporting 30 meters away from the rogue and towards the party while leaving a clone of himself behind.

Also Halp!

 

[MoonlitRain014]

Aeria Luxus lay, contorted in pain but frozen in place, body twisted in the embrace of the frozen fog's aftermath. Her clothes were burned clean through in places and suppurating flesh showed through. She seemed unaware of anything around her and moaned weakly in words that made little sense. Off in the corner, Diamantus' eyes went wide as they took in the scene of the fallen spurii, but she remained otherwise expressionless.

Her attention focused on the activities of the rogue and the way she had stabbed down at Cassius. Something had happened besides him diving away. Her brows drew together as she watched the scene unfold. After a moment, they rose again and her jaw set itself into hard lines, as if she'd made a decision and would see it through, damn the consequences.

Diamantus stamped her heel down hard on the ground and snapped her fingers, flinging out the cone of icy energy in the direction of the rogue. Her face was caught between rage and concern as she sought to freeze the rogue and trap her in place, so that Aelflead and Keydis could deal with her efficiently.

Notes

Diamantus used Diamond Dust against the rogue

 

[Mystydjinn]

After hitting the ground again, the spurii who’d made it to a far wall was dusting herself off, trying to rub the twisting white spots out of her eyes and silence the incessant ringing in her ears. The mage’s shout; not girly, but far from mannish, and occupying some supernaturally average range between tenor and baritone, cut through the artificial din cluttering the woman’s ears.

Aelflead rubbed at her eyes for a moment to clear her vision, then she growled when she caught sight of the unremarkable cry’s source. Of fucking course.

There was no empathy from her in this, just frustration. She’d suspected it was his spell that’d shackled her to the flying book earlier and she’d only refrained from flinging him into a wall afterwards then, because he was the only one with the medical prowess potent enough for their situation. Now she was acting again for the same reason. He wasn’t remarkable enough to warrant that much of her ire anyway.

Utilitarian motivations do not equal utility though. The spurii was far from a gunslinger or knife thrower for that matter, and was painfully aware of how badly she’d miss if she threw her knife right then, but she also knew her legs weren’t faster than the dead rogue’s glittering daggers.

Her mind rapidly ran through potential options, but despite the fact that she’d need whatever she threw to change directions mid-flight, every option involved throwing something at the rogue. Then she remembered the violet chain in her hand and that it was attached to something that could do exactly what she needed.

Ever so slightly, the corner of the woman’s lip curled upwards.

[277/1,193]

FFS

Passion [Gangway] + Corpore Daemonum = 20m Flaming fastball special

Aelf's aim is ass on a good day, she's not expecting to explode, and this is the first time she's exploded, so she's gonna fall on her ass with this one. Aelflead is hammer throwing Keydis at the rogue and hoping that Key can course correct to compensate for her bad aim.

 

[Keydis Lysistrata]

I can't make it in time! Before that thought even completed, Keydis was thrown tumbling through the air. Fighting instinct kicked in, she grabbed her sword's hilt and her eyes locked on the rogue while everything else spun around her.

A rush of air blasted around Keydis, speeding her spin but correcting her course just before impact. Sword pierced into flesh, twisted around. Once? Twice?

Then Keydis hit the ground in an out of control tumble over the hard stone.

[80/1140]

Notes

Sorry this is short, feeling under the weather but didn't want anyone to wait. Fastball special aimed at the rogue over Cass' shoulder. Up to Arun if it's a glancing blow or a deep corckscrew.

Promoveo - 500 Vigor

21,700/30,000 Vigor spent

 

[Nargles]

The clone’s form flickered and dissipated as the blade plunged through. If the rogue was stunned, it did not show. As she turned with murderous intent her eyes locked onto Aeria. With a twirl of the blade she threw a knife forward. However, a shimmer of crystal reflected light in the air around her. The cold rushed up, encasing both the assassin and the blade midflight. The ice burned deep, rooting her in a frozen tomb. For a moment the air was still. Crash! Keydis barreled through the frozen thief unrelenting force. The ice shattered into chunks, the last life breathing out of the rogue’s body. Keydis righted herself brusquely, recovering from the mortal blow she had just dealt. Freed from whatever queer magic had bound them to this realm, the spirits of the three were finally given rest.

Final: [2306]

 

[Cassius Colonnade]

Cassius watched the rogue shatter into a thousand pieces. Then he fell back, clutched his shoulder, and bit his lip to keep himself from crying out in pain. They had somehow lived. Against the odds, they had beaten these creatures from afar. That had won. He should revel in his victory, or so he was told.


It did not feel like a victory, though. The lot of them were scratched and banged up, some more than others. He was bleeding still, a dim part of his brain reminded him. He should get that looked at. The others had taken heavy wounds as well, and there was no sign that they were even at the halfway point in this temple.

Could they take a break or something? Retreat to camp and try to come in tomorrow? Or at least take a nap or rest for a bit in here. Or did he have no choice but to press on? It was a scary thought.

“ O wondr… ” the mage started the incantation for a healing spell, but stopped short. He opened his eyes from his position on his back. Though upside down, the half frozen figure of Aeria jumped out at him. He thought about ignoring it, but then realized how much he would need her in the coming fights. If nothing else than someone to get torn to shreds before him.


He rolled over, sucking in a gasp as the wound on his side met cold floor. Using the arm on his good side, Cassius struggled up to his feet. He cursed under his breath at the pain, then wobbled. He had lost more than a little bit of blood.


“ O Wondrous Light, he began again as he half-walked, half-stumbled his way over the Aeria. “ mend these wounds… please. ” His hands glowed, and he directed the flows, forming a current of healing energy to first the frozen woman and then through him and to Dia. He owed her for playing bodyguard for him, however futile that effort had been.

He felt the soothing aura form, linking the three of them. He pulled the excess energy into himself, feeling the long gash on his right shoulder start to knit. He furthered the connection a moment later when his hand reached Aeria, placing it upon one of her large bruises from where she had taken a meteor to the… well the entire body.


“Dia,” Cassius said quietly, tiredly, “please come here so that I can get you fixed up. I can’t move much more than this.” He reached out his other hand towards her, glowing with the light that filtered between the two of them.

 

[Keydis Lysistrata]

Keydis forced her way back onto her feet, battling exhaustion, pain, and dizziness. The brunette sheathed her sword, but kept her arm blade exposed. She shuffled over toward the others, looking around the room and finding it pleasantly void of undead.

The look of the caster as she finished it off flashed through her thoughts, and she had to fight not to throw up again.

Looking at Aeria, Keydis wondered if she should have tried to save the lancer instead of Aelflead. Maybe there would have been enough time after all. In the moment, she hadn't questioned it but now, seeing how badly it had gone, she second-guessed herself. "Do your thing," she said to Cassius. "I'll stand guard."

She wasn't at her best, but she felt responsible for the others.

While things were quiet, Keydis also tried to focus on the technique Annora had shown her, to see if anywhere in particular felt more magical than the rest of the unearthly temple.

Final [160/1300]

Notes

21,700/30,000 Vigor spent