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Post by Huniidu on Jul 26, 2018 20:39:17 GMT -6
Alex
Alex stared at Aleski with a cold gaze, I guess I'll do all the thinking then since you're obviously just going to throw things at it till you run out, she scoffed and looked out the window. Watching the wyvern fly off to claim the dead chevalier, disgusting. She shook her head trying to clear her thoughts but to no avail, the carriage filled was with panic was a distraction, she felt her heart rate race with every loud voice yelling over the chaos. Yes it made complete sense to be filled with fear after all being cooked alive isn't a peaceful way to go and the alternatives were not any better. A wyvern which they had no means of defeating or grounding why bother. She was just fine waiting for there distractions to cause a miracle and save them or be their demise whichever came 1st. A familiar voice screamed among the crowd. Alex turned sharply towards Juliet the mares screams stuck her, She didn't expect everything to spiral so quickly, the clattering of jewelry on the floor and the sudden charge into the cargo bay left Alex's mind blank. She muttered a curse before making her way towards the cargo bay keeping her calm through every part of her was screaming to run after Juliet. Having to shove her way past a cluttering of horse before reaching the door and the small gap between the two carriages. “ Juliet? Are you okay?” she called out softly.
WC: 247 Post #5 |
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Post by hey-stardust on Jul 27, 2018 2:57:47 GMT -6
 CLARKE | WAR-FORGED | AMBASSADOR
Maybe I could live without it, maybe I could let it go. Boy you know I got a habit, chasing all the broken roads.
She didn’t want to go through this, not again.
Clarke felt bile rise in her throat as the carriage began to buckle under the weight of the wyvern's grasp, with what little space they had rapidly closing in. She watched one of the Chevaliers, brave but foolish, ripped open the doors to take a shot at the beast with a hastily knocked arrow.
The projectile went wide, but the dragon noticed.
Gore splattered the innards of the carriage as her claws tore through the guard as though he were nothing more than paper. The smell of iron clogged Clarke's nose, filling her mind with flashbacks of that accursed cave, and the horrors that she had witnessed within it.
This was all too much.
She spun from the gilded carriage, blindly pushing past the mess of nobles and bolting into the staff carriage behind them - away from them all.
The mare was trembling from head to foot, her legs threatening to give way. Her breath came out in shallow gasps, making her dizzy and unable to think clearly.
She staggered, falling against the wall as another jolt shook the train, leaning hard against it to try and steady her racing thoughts, bringing her back to some semblance of stability.
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Post by ThatDenver on Jul 27, 2018 5:11:24 GMT -6
THE STAFF CAR
You push inside the staff car. It’s much smaller than the 1st class car you were just in, and the air inside is clammy. You’d probably open a window if there wasn’t a wyvern just outside. At the same time, it also feels more secure, like the walls are thicker here.
Maybe they are. The windows are much smaller, walls solid and comforting. They even cancel out some of the terrible noise outside.
The chevaliers left this space in a hurry. There is a young server crying under a bunk bed, tucked tight into the small space.
The food that was taken aboard with you has mostly fallen to the ground, creating a slippery, goopy mess in the back end of the car. The smell of sweet jams and thousand shard cheeses splattered on wall is almost enough to cover the smell of iron and fire.
When you regain your balance, and enough composure to see beyond crushed pastries, you notice a two potential things of interest:
There is a locked closet on the wall with a medical symbol on it. You have a pretty good idea what would be in there.
In the chevalier break room area, next to the bunk bed, you can see a peek of some kind of emergency weapon – looks like a baton – held inside another locked wall closet with a glass front panel.
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Post by posy-punch on Jul 27, 2018 21:25:12 GMT -6
The second she seemed to get agreement from anyone in the car, Scarlet was focusing. So focused was she that she nearly missed the scene with the chevalier. Nearly. It fleetingly reminded her of the Crucible attack, but she was used to gore, if not always in this context. She let the scene hold her attention for a mere moment before regaining herself. She took a look outside of the window opposite the wyvern and as soon as it was lifting off of the roof if only momentarily, she was creating the illusion of the scenery opposite in place of where their particular car had been. If the illusion were any larger she would not be able to control it, even now it was difficult.
Sensing the need to further disguise the nature of the car, she created a burst of light, hopefully enough to momentarily distract the wyvern further. The Emin backed up in the car, far from the fireside's windows and doors, her legs shaking with the effort of continuously matching the scenery she saw to what was concealing the train car.
"We need to get moving quicker!" She snapped, her voice betraying her stress. "I can only hold this so long; Opulence has the ballista to shoot this lizard down." She chose to ignore that Isador's own wyvern had nearly razed Valore to the ground. Let them stay optimistic and hope that Opulence would save them.
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Post by brandvandet on Jul 30, 2018 22:30:37 GMT -6
cyndane The shape had swooped toward the car and manifested itself as another Ignacio forsaken wyvern. The conductor followed her order, took notice and put their contingent of Chevaliers on guard--whatever little good that would do. The train seemed to be going painfully slowly as every beat of the monster’s wings brought it nearer the car.
Outside the car, terror chased them. Inside it, it reigned. The entire car crashed into anarchy as everyone lost every once of decorum to panic. Cyndane registered a scream only after she saw a Chevalier’s side ripped open. Belatedly, she spun away from the window herself, yelling after her friend’s son as she did.
“Thaio, get away from the window!” Ignacio hope the kid would listen. Her own body would offer scant defense so instead of trying to guard the growing boy she looked around for something remotely productive to do. Scarlet was keeping the beast at bay if only for the moment and none of the flames had come close enough to them for her to begin expending her blessing on them.
The War Forged ambassador pushed out of the cart and her instincts pushed her after the mule. This was bad enough without having to explain to Hira how her representative had died by dragon mauling. “Clarke!” She shouted, for once not sure what she should say next. Instead, she glanced around the room, noticing the rod. “Do you think that would help?”
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Post by blackmetalvalkyrie on Jul 31, 2018 7:08:51 GMT -6
  
B E A U E K O
Eminent of Aodh
... ...
Panic ran rampant through the once beautiful car, now coated in blood and Juliet’s fallen jewels. He felt a tug at his heart to go after her when she ran to the cargo cart, so after his adopted mother his amathyst hooves carried him. There had to be something better in there than what little they had in the party car. He watched in awe while he stumbled towards the cargo car as the dragon chased the deceased Chevalier that Aleksei had animated, giving the train and it’s occupants a few moments to gather themselves. But he couldn’t wait for long, for she would be back. His heart was thundering in his chest, but he trusted Scarlet and Aleksei with the safety of the train while the others were searching the staff car. Without another second’s hesitation he bolted forwards towards the door, focusing his attention now on the path in front of him. Upon opening the door to the luxury car he was met with a blast of heat and a roar. Then without warning, a huge clawed hand reached down and started grabbing around in the space between the cars. Beau couldn’t make a sound as the claws reached his back as he was crossing, raking down his ribs in an attempt to rip him up into the open. A ferocious scream left his lips as he twisted and used his horns to push and wriggle his way out of the dragon’s albeit loose grip. Blood stained his pale coat, this time it was his own.
Mustering as much strength as he could he pushed through his fear and burst into the cargo car. He was met with nothing but darkness, that and the presence of a few others. Blood painted his sides and his back twinged with pain, but he had to be of use somehow. He just had to be. His purple eyes darted around in the dark, his breathing heavy. Hopefully Juliet would use her Light Manipulation to light up the car so they would be able to see potential helpful objects more. But his feathered legs were shaking from the loss of blood and fear. Leaning on a wall, he hoped it would subside, but it didn’t. He lowered his head and waited. For someone to speak or for death by dragon, one was not able to tell. All the young unicorn stallion did was hope the train would make it to Opulence. His faith and fate rested in the others’ hooves.
... ... Word Count: 420 Post # 5 |
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Post by ThatDenver on Jul 31, 2018 15:31:04 GMT -6
ALEKSEI
The distraction he created was extremely short lived, as was to be expected – but still the fear pumped through his veins all the more, seeing the ease with which the body was destroyed, and his connection to it severed.
Inside the car chaos reigned. Clarke and Juliet both took off in what could only be described as fits of panic – jewels and blood mixed on the floor of the cart into a glittering mess of gore. The screams and shouts did not improve his own mood and confidence in the situation as Cyndane commanded Thaio away from the windows, and then headed after Clarke.
She seemed in control on the situation at least, and it was somewhat comforting.
From the corner of his eye he saw Beau take off after Juliet and Alex, while Scarlet clearly strained to keep the illusion up for them.
The wyvern, clearly somewhat confused by the illusion as it went up, flew above them. It sounded angry, frustrated even.
However, it clearly was not stupid, as by the sound of it the creature got a scratch in on Beau – or at least Aleksei hoped it was just a scratch.
The illusion wavered but remained.
He knew that it would have been smart to take off and go look for something else with the others, but while fear kept his mind somewhat functional, his body was not cooperating. Aleksei was afraid that if he took off, he’d lose what little control he had, as it would be easier to run and hide than stand and fight.
Better not even give himself the option.
Kaia have mercy on us, he thought to himself as he reached out again, pulling at the earth to bring out skeletons of animals as they passed. The troupe of corpses raised by him ran haphazardly, clicking their hollow mouths at the wyvern who, to her credit, destroyed such mundane creations with ease.
At least they occupied her a moment longer. Kept her from striking at the train underneath the illusion.
Word count: 338
Post #6
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Post by NorthernMyth on Aug 2, 2018 21:42:15 GMT -6
Before long the colts head rested against the window. The alcohol finally reaching his system and he dozed off into a light slumber. Not knowing the flying death above. At first, he didn’t flinch at Cyndane’s heightened voice. His eyes remained closed, his breathing still steady. It took another few minutes of somewhat louder distant chatter to make the colt stir. He was more annoyed that the adults had become more rowdy and loud enough to wake him. As he looked up to ask them to keep it down, a bright flash of light and heat wrapped itself around him. What on Hireath?!
His head jolted up and he gazed out the window. A humongous black shape effortlessly hovered up-above the train car. Although a beautiful and glorious sight, Thaio felt his stomach drop and an onset affair of calm and panic nipped at him. The colt stood from his seat. Though still facing the window. He heard Aleksei’s tone differ between horses and many spoke out ideas on how to console and distract the beast. Just enough to get to Opulance. Thaio swallowed hard as the dragons form loomed over them. Her frame blocking out the sun, much like an Eclipse. Thaio turned his head just in time to see a chevalier open the train car door. Once standing there and then. Gone. The chevalier's body dropped and blood smeared the pristine white floor. Alek shoving the fallen guard from the doorway. Out into the fast passing brush. He wanted to throw up. The metallic scent wafted in the air choking any near it.
The colt didn’t know what to do or say. What could he do? He was useless. Cyndane yelled at him. He was blind sighted almost. The colt backed up from the window, just in time as a set of scales and talons burst through the train car window. Glass shards flew at the small black and white stallion. Causing him to lunge back and yelp in surprise. Shards hit his face. A few cutting at his muzzle and cheek. Thaio raced over to Cyndane. Hiding behind her like a newborn foal. “What do we do?!” He finally managed to say something. Air flustered into the train car making it loud and cold. “I don’t want to die here!” He could feel tears welling up and it took all his strength to push them back down.
"Why did I have to go on this stupid trip?!" Blood now running down his face
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Post by Disastercorn on Aug 4, 2018 22:35:55 GMT -6
  JULIET
Within darkness there was no peace.
She was alone.
Alone.
Chest heaved, hide glistening with sweat upon her chest and neck. It wasn't a welcomed feeling, but again, none of this was. Eyes were still wild with fear and panic. The loss of sanity still raged through her mind, driving limbs and torso towards the far reaches of the darkness. A cage. Trapped within a cage as a beast of flame and sky tried to murder them all. Tears trailed down her face, garb ripped and foreign, hanging over her in spots her body did not recognize.
Only when a voice she knew, could identify did the world of insanity come crashing down over her head, leaving behind a creature Juliet barely recognized.
Herself.
Tears fell as she struggled to stand properly. "A-alex?" When the darkness refused to leave, the Eminent summoned a few large balls of light, illuminating the cabin. Her legs shook but now was not the time to panic. Or was it?! As Beau thundered into the car, Juliet reared up and then watched her son nearly collapse to the floor. "SCARLET!" She screamed, not knowing what else to do. Her mind suddenly got an idea. Scarlet's light blessing was like her own but so much stronger. Beau needed help. "Alex, just my gown, put pressure on his wounds ok? Here's a light, I'll be right back." Her control was back in full swing.
Jumping out of the car Juliet moved to Scarlets side, breathless. My love!" She spoke, nose pushing under the others neck. "Let me try my hand at distracting it. Beau is bleeding too much and I think you can seal up his wounds." With a small breath she braced her legs and summoned 3 large balls of light outside the car. They hovered and then swirled up as she had them move around the sky, like one would do like a cat toy to a feline. "Maybe she'll be like one of the many wild cats around the Gilded Bridge."
Word Count: 358 | Post #4
Juliet gifted a glowing ball to Alex, left the cargo car, is standing beside Scarlet and summoned large glowing balls to see if the wyvern acts like a cat with a lazer pointer |
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Post by ThatDenver on Aug 5, 2018 0:29:53 GMT -6
THE CARGO - ILLUMINATED
The moment Juliet summons her orbs of light, the Cargo Car becomes a lot less claustrophobic – in the new light you realize that it is indeed quite big, bigger even than your 1st class car. Although some boxes have toppled over from the wyvern’s efforts to rock the train, most of it is very neatly tucked away, leaving clear paths for you to walk.
With a new light source, you can see the contents of the whole cargo hold. Besides the two things you already picked up on, you can now tell a container in the very back corner definitely has some pretty stinky cheeses inside, and that there are plenty more pieces of art in this cargo hold. There is Seroran Pottery too, and some sort of taxidermized animal you don’t immediately recognize, but can vaguely remember seeing in a storybook about Talori once.
Peering around the cargo, you pick up on a few more interesting packages besides the two near the entrance you saw earlier:
A large, softbound package. Judging by the wrappings, whatever is inside is quite valuable. The fabric, from what you can see, seems to have decorations in floral patterns.
A wooden container that bears the stamp of one of the most renowned weapon smiths in New Valore.
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Post by posy-punch on Aug 6, 2018 0:29:31 GMT -6
Scarlet
Let's preface this knowing Scarlet is a selfish asshole As much as Scarlet loved Juliet, this was not the time to barrel into her for help. Not with a car full of other, far more clever occupants. The Emin's eyes fluttered shut, ears pricked to listen to what her lover said. Her illusion wavered as Juliet pulled at her own blessing, attempting to distract the beast outside. Scarlet locked eyes with Aleksei, sweat beading on her forehead as she continued to hold up the illusion, throwing more strength behind it.
"Has anyone found anything of use?! Emergency medicines? A damn doctor on board?" She yelled, still not moving from her place. She could feel Juliet's worry radiating off of her, though, and so she changed her course of action.
"I'll have to drop the illusion unless someone has some way of helping her son?" She called again. Regardless of whether or not she got an answer, Scarlet heaved a sigh, the stress of choosing weighing down on her.
"Dear, I don't think," She paused, wincing, "It would be safe for me to drop the illusion yet. We don't know how far out we are from Opulence still." She said. She didn't look at Juliet, eyes still intently watching the passing scenery on the side of the train opposite the dragon, mimicking it to mask their presence. "Put pressure on his wounds and have the others help look for emergency meds; otherwise he'll have to wait until we're all in less of a dire situation."
The emin then looked at Adelina where she had sat patiently on the seat. Waiting for a command. An idea came to the emin in that moment (she was on a roll today it seemed) and she quickly sent the puma on its way. Perhaps the big cat would be able to climb its way into the engine room and come back with a report on what was happening in there, and perhaps a way to fix it.
"Go Adelina, then come back and tell me what's wrong."
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Scarlet has called out for someone else to help Beau bc as much as she loves Juliet she is way too worried about dying to drop her illusion.
She also sends her familiar Adelina towards the engine room, counting on the fact that the cat will be able to safely climb over the tender.
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Post by ThatDenver on Aug 6, 2018 18:28:18 GMT -6
ENGINE ROOM
Adelina crosses the now well-lit cargo space easily, squeezing herself between the horses and weaving through the space until the reaches the door on the other side. She opens it, and steps outside onto the small platform, with tiny maintenance stairs leading up to the tender.
With the roof down, a hose would not fit through.
But a puma would.
Crawling through the coal onto the other side, she is safe from the wyvern within the tender, and inside the locomotive almost as soon as she leaves the safety of a roofed area.
The train driver, chevalier guard and worker all stare at the now sooty puma for a moment in what can only be described as utter confusion, but the issue becomes apparent to the cat – the furnace is not nearly hot enough. She might never have been inside one of these roaring beasts before, but she can smell the coal burn – it’s no good.
“We can’t get it hot enough”, the Chevalier tells the puma, voice shaking. He clearly hopes the cat is able to help them – luckily enough he is a familiar whisperer, so at least the conversation is not entirely one sided.
“The furnace doesn’t get enough air, but if we keep the door open, the heat escapes. It feels… It feels like it’s choked. Usually we’d stop to see to it, it’s just…”
As if to drive a point home, the wyvern roars above them.
All locations are now revealed
HER
Her talons are still wet with blood – the waver of an illusion as Beau moved enough to target him. Just a moment was all it took.
A moment more would have seen him dead.
She can not see the train, but she can feel the heat streaming from it, can smell the blood and life within it.
Then, there it is. The illusion wavers slightly as Juliet’s light orbs join it. She breathes flame, and it licks an invisible form, just for a moment the train trailing into view before it vanishes again.
The orbs of light have her eyes turning. She swoops after them, if only just for a moment; it takes little more than a snap and the twist of her teeth to sunder them.
Same goes for the army of dead called forth from the earth. She makes a game of it, her talons wrecking apart body and bone. What her claws can not reach, her flames burn to a crisp.
She screeches in frustration, and for a moment, flies almost side to side with the train. Her eyes peer at the illusion, unable to see but knowing, knowing something is there.
A commanding roar and the whip of a tail as she gains altitude once more – it hits the side of the cargo car with a slam, not enough to topple it over, but enough to break balance.
Finding purchase, she slams again, this time hitting the 1st class car. A window shatters from the impact.
She can smell them.
They can not hide from her forever.
Another orb of light pulls her away, buying more moments as her annoyance grows.
But, at the same time, Opulence draws closer.
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Post by brandvandet on Aug 6, 2018 18:32:24 GMT -6
cyndane The wind rushing past their train was deafening even without the roar of the wyvern overhead and the shouts and the screams of the unlucky Chevaliers. At first, every shout slammed against her ears and knocked her concentration sideways. In a frighteningly short time, however, she found she could tune them out. She placed them aside as surely as she placed parts of herself aside when the traits were not useful. She'd mourn later if she did not join the dead in Ignacio's embrace.
As Thaio burst into the room and pressed behind her for safety, her attention was dragged away from the rod in the case. The boy was hurt and bleeding but it did not seem serious. Taking a corner of the satin brocade she had slung over her shoulder she tried to dab at his face to attempt to stem the blood from going in his eyes. "Shh, shh, we're going to be alright. We're going to get there," she said, automatically reassuring him with every ounce of her skill at charm and lying. She reached for the medkit with her teke and scanned the contents.
Yells for help came from the other room and she glanced up toward the door. "Thaio, we're going to have to pull it together. Can you get that out of its case?" She indicated the rod on the wall. "It might help. I need to go see if anyone can use this kit. Follow me--safely--when you get it." She moved out to the other car, picking her way as well as she could through the car debris. "I found a medkit! Who's hurt?"
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Post by ThatDenver on Aug 6, 2018 22:44:29 GMT -6
MED KIT
The medkit Cyndane pulls free clearly isn’t equipped quite up to standards – you will make a complaint about that later if you survive this – but you can still make out a good selection of bandages, antiseptic solutions and various medications for pain. The selection is slimmer than you’d like, obviously in need of a restock, but in your situation they are better than nothing. These will surely prove handy.
There’s also a weird, small rod lodged in there. Closer inspection reveals it to be a small wooden rod with a head shaped like the body of Sea Goddess Cascade, with elaborate fins and scales carved into the wood. The rod has an almost calming aura, and merely holding it seems capable of closing wounds at speed.
OOC: Cascade’s Touch is a small wooden rod with level 4 Healing Regeneration. Can heal the holder as if they themselves had maxed out healing regeneration, although the magic will fizzle out if put under heavy use (such as healing heavy damage over and over).
A fairly straightforward imbued item – it was designed to be used in the case of emergency, and this certainly is one.
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Post by Jennycallie on Aug 7, 2018 1:59:25 GMT -6
 Kaia
“Time stopped.” It’s a common enough phrase used among mortals, for describing moments of great impact, in which they look back upon and see in frozen or fragmented detail. It is only in the act of remembrance, however, that lends this illusion. And illusion it is, for time does not truly stop in moments of crisis or otherwise, not for mere mortals.
Well, not usually.
Between one breath and the next, time on the besieged train... stopped.
Frozen.
At least for Aleksei, anyways.
You have a knack, mortal Aleksei, for reaching me through great obstacles.
Kaia’s words arrived in Aleksei’s consciousness as they had the first time, without sound or fanfare. The connection between them was undeniable, and as steady as stone, but also… muffled, somehow. As if a voice heard from another room, or through the dense foliage of a forest.
But you called me, child of fire and earth. I am here. At least this time you do not offer fire at my altar, nor question me.
Kaia’s voice was amused, warm as sun-baked earth, but she sobered quickly, the presence of her intensifying as she looked into Aleksei’s soul.
Your prayers to me are normally calmer, steady. You have embraced and learned from the earth well, and while I sense greater balance- presently your soul shivers with- with fear.
Kaia broke off then, and perhaps Aleksei could feel the slow but inexorable build of anger that bubbled up between their connection, as implacable and devastating as the slide of lava across a heaving earth.
I can feel your desperation, to survive yes, but also to protect, defend, and fight. You remain in the heart of my brother’s realm, but he has not helped you, whose soul calls so strongly to mine. You call to me, you have learned the value of the earth, you have fought to help yourself, and yet you are endangered, YOU WHO ARE MINE!
The last words slammed into Aleksei’s mind with the subtlety of a landslide, thrumming through his veins and resonating in his very bones. Something began to stir in his chest, a sensation that he might have remembered from his last encounter with Kaia but sharper, intensified. Kaia’s fresh claim on his soul unfurled rapidly, like so many vines racing through his blood as the new Blessing- for what else could it be?- anchored itself in him.
You have changed yourself, you have changed others, and I believe you could change the world. So take my Blessing of Holy Reality Manipulation, mortal Aleksei, true child of Earth, and protect your own! Because you are mine, and I, I am yours, and I too will protect my own!
Again Kaia’s voice rang like the clarion of a bell, and the awakening life in Aleksei grew yet sharper, more urgent. For a moment pain flared in his chest, a straining and overwhelming burst of awareness and potential that burst through the cracks and fissures in his soul, filling them with the familiar touch of Kaia’s favor.
New growth is not easy, but only under pressure is the earth at its strongest. You will be the vine that survives, the tree that shelters, the forest that provides... and the mountain which bows to none! With Holy Reality Manipulation, you will go forth and show the world who you are, and what you are capable of.
Go, Aleksei. Go now- and be great.
Kaia’s presence dwindled, leaving only the blazing awareness of her Blessing in her stead which thrummed in time to Aleksei’s heartbeats.
Waiting.
Time resumed.
Kaia has blessed Aleksei with Holy Reality Manipulation! Congratulations! Now go kick some shiny charizard wyvern butt everyone
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Post by ThatDenver on Aug 8, 2018 4:13:24 GMT -6
ALEKSEI
Panic continued to spread. Aleksei was losing track of who was and where as people kept moving around, running from one car to another. The smell of blood and fear was thick in the air as he tried to make out who was shouting and where – who needed help, if all the voices were still there, if they were all still alive.
Juliet ran back into the car, almost running into Scarlet, or that’s how it felt. Aleksei’s eyes were wide, breath hitching in his throat and his necromancy wavering as fear threatened to take over completely. The way Juliet spoke made it sound so serious.
Beau was so young.
Aleksei wanted to scream at her to go help Beau and leave this to them, but he couldn’t. Something in Juliet’s eyes was more raw and real than he ever remembered seeing.
It reminded him.
Scarlet did not budge, for which Aleksei was grateful. He was keeping it together now, but had he been left alone… The heat and the roars, the smell of death.
A smell he was comfortable in his own home, but this was… Different.
“Cyndane! Beau is hurt – he is over in the cargo!”, he shouted, preparing to reach out and raise another round of undead to throw into the wyvern’s maws.
Then, time stopped.
He knew that voice.
For a moment, the train, the death, the fear, felt distant. Almost insignificant.
The fear in him seeped to the soil of their shared connection. The goddess’ anger vibrated on the edges of the connection, but it was not directed at him, and the feeling of it empowered him.
The landslide of her words, the power, the finality of her claim upon his soul as a new blessing seared in his chest.
Aleksei ached for it, and because of it – the strength of it far surpassed what he already held.
Holy Reality Manipulation.
Solaris’ blessing.
His blessing.
He wanted to speak with her, to connect with her, but there were no words, and there was no time. A few heartbeats was all the exchange took, the goddess immune to the flow of time mortals were slave to.
Kaia was gone, but the words remained.
A black aura, the same color as his teke, vibrated from Aleksei’s body.
“Scarlet. I will help you. Let me help you”, he said breathlessly as the very reality around him warped. His blessing was not fully in control, and he focused on what Scarlet was doing to anchor him. The dark around him expanded, showing his influence as, in places, he twisted the very reality itself, showing things that had not been there, but were now. It was haphazard, questioning, searching.
His nose bled.
Word count: 452
Post #7
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Post by blackmetalvalkyrie on Aug 10, 2018 22:31:20 GMT -6
B E A U E K O
Eminemt of Aodh
......
Juliet did indeed illuminate the cargo car, bringing more than a few parcels and packages into view. He tried to ignore the copious amount of crimson blood on the floor as his mother left a light orb with him before sprinting back to the first class car, likely to get help for him. But helping him shouldn’t be the main concern. Not when a huge terrible beast reigned terror above them. Taking a deep breath he pushed the pain to the back of his mind and shoved off the wall of the car, leaving an abstract trail of blood. He went for one of the larger boxes, bearing the seal of a weapons producer in Valore he had heard very much about. With his teke and horns he was able to rip open the box with some effort and grab what was inside...a very sizable and...cold bow and a wine of 10 arrows. It was likely imbued with Frost Manipulation or something of the sort, for even in his teke the weapon sent a shiver down his spine. Without a second’s hesitation, he leapt for the door of the cargo car. The bleeding had slowed thanks to his coat somewhat aiding the clotting, but the young unicorn was still weak. He pushed through it once more, panting, for his family was on this train. The hope of Aodh was on this train. All it’s nobles couldn’t die, the economy would collapse.
He leapt between cars with a flinch and entered the first class car with the bow and arrows in his teke, dripping blood onto the carpet beneath their hooves. Little was spoken as he passed Aleksei, Juliet, and Scarlet trying their hardest to deter the dragon with magic. Light, illusion and...alternate realities peppered his view of the countryside. Beau stole a glance at Aleksei before nodding in affirmation and returning to the task at hand. He stepped over the gore the deceased Chevalier left behind and braced himself in the frame of the open door, blood still dripping down his sides but not as copiously as before. He hadn’t heard Cyndane ask who was injured for she had asked before he arrived back in the car, but it was fairly clear that he was in the most need of medical attention out of the lot of them. Nocking a freezing arrow, Beau aimed up at the wyvern and pulled back with all the strength he had. Thankfully the bow was large and made for someone of his size and strength. Once the dark creature came into range he let loose an arrow, which in flight became solid ice and connected with the dragon’s lower cheek. He loosed another arrow that connected with her chest. His purple eyes flashed determinedly as he prepared another arrow. But his sides were heaving and his vision blurred, so he lowered the bow to catch his breath, even for a moment, or he would be lost to the countryside.
I hope Opulence is close...thought the stallion to himself. I don’t know how much longer this will distract the dragon.
... ... Word Count: 515 Post # 6 |
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Post by posy-punch on Aug 11, 2018 6:27:59 GMT -6
Scarlet knew they would not last, not at this rate. Not with the wyvern growing more impatient, more fitful as they chugged along the tracks. Adelina curled around her legs, sooty and informative. “The engine is not hot enough,” Scarlet said quietly, more to herself than anyone else. There was nothing she could do about it. Not now when she was trapped trying to keep a monstrosity such as Her at bay.
“Adelina, tell them to work on the problem in any way they can, We are…. Dealing with Her for now.” She neglected to tell the puma that it was highly more likely that rather than dealing with her they were just, delaying the inevitable in a shitty panic.
She turned her attention to the carriage, Cyndane making her way inside, questioning who was hurt, who needed attention. “Beau needs healing!” Scarlet snapped, though there was nothing rude about her tone. Things just needed to be said and done; quick and to the point. She didn’t realize she was echoing Aleksei’s own words, her concentration pulled back from the carriage and onto her illusion.
She couldn’t do it.
It hurt far too much to hold up something of this complexity of this caliber.
Aleksei’s voice troubled her so much, she was once again focused on him. Whatever curse was on the tip of her tongue was lost as she watched the poor noble clearly wrestle with the power of his own blessing. By god; what had they blessed him with. Scarlet was quick to step closer to him, mindless of the blood on his face. She had survived the bombing of the Crucible. This was the same in many regards.
“Then help me you ass.” Not very eloquent, but very Scarlet. The eminent threw another wave of strength into her illusion. It would not hold, not after these next few minutes. She would not have the strength. Her vision flickered and her coat continued to color with sweat.
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Post by ThatDenver on Aug 11, 2018 15:59:11 GMT -6
ALEKSEI
His new power confused him. He had seen Solaris use it, so many times, with so little effort, but it was foreign to him. It’s capabilities so much more than what he had previously, but also a lot less straightforward.
Scarlet’s less than friendly tone might have offended him in another moment, but right now he was simultaneously too scared, too focused and too confused – it barely even registered anymore that she was there.
The train faithfully churned onward, and the wyvern seemed to become more fervent in her attempts to locate them. Occasionally her tails or claws found purchase, breaking windows and popping off panels, but she couldn’t quite find them, her true quarry.
In the engine room every effort was being made to better the airflow, to increase the heat. The engine groaned.
Beau’s arrow smacked the wyvern solid in the jaw, emitting a scream. Another in the chest had less of an effect – the scales were hard. Her eyes spun as the second arrow flew, spotting where it came from.
She still did not see them, but she knew them.
The wyvern flew downward, almost parallel to them. Her maw opened and had Thaio not just arrived to strike down a force field, the flames would have enveloped all of them. Now the flames instead damaged the paneling and melted some of the metallic outer décor into an indescribable, ugly mess. The flames licked through the illusion, made them visible for just a moment.
They could see in her eyes that she saw them.
Victory shone in her gaze, for even as her jaw bled from the ice block, she had won.
She had her prize.
Another ball of flame was the end of the illusion, but the force field holds. Fire scattered around the bubble shielding them. From behind the shimmering shield, they could see the damage the arrow did to her jaw – gum and teeth shone between damaged meat. There is blood on her tongue. The ice hit hard.
Several things happened all at once.
The wyvern pulled back for another round of flame.
Scarlet tumbled down to her knees, exhausted to her limit by her effort to keep them alive.
Something within Aleksei uncoiled in the face of imminent death.
And with it, the laws of nature changed.
The gravity shifted violently – the passengers felt a sudden, hard pull towards the ground, and the train groaned to a near stop as it suddenly became much heavier.
The wyvern, his target, was most affected. So close to the pull, she fell hard. She cut her wing-arm on the way down, and there was a quiet crack from her tail. She screamed, in agony this time rather than anger. As Aleksei’s hold relented only a few seconds later, the train pulls back into speed, but the wyvern does not follow them any longer.
She has clearly decided that getting mauled by ice cubes and whatever other horrible things the eminents were capable of was not worth whatever she was after.
She looked after them and wailed in anger and frustration, but when she carefully, a bit off balance, took wing again, it was in the direction from which she came from – the direction of Ashlar.
Aleksei’s nose bleeded more heavily, and his eyes rolled back as he joined Scarlet on the floor, his strength completely exhausted by the effort.
…
Maybe thirty minutes later the train, battered and damaged as it is, rolls into Opulence. HM Fortune left New Valore glorious, but is now a mess – not only are the cars all in various states of fire damage, with bent panels and broken windows, but the locomotive itself looks part melted. Some of the parts got damaged by the sudden stop from Reality Manipulation, and the blood will take ages to scrub out from the cargo and 1st class cars. There is even a trail of hard ice on the side of what remain of the car door, left behind by one of the arrows.
But they are alive, and for now, they are safe. Spotters see no sign of the wyvern, and as the eminents are ushered in for a rest.
The unease in Opulence is tangible.
The eminents will have to walk home – no train will take the tracks until it is safe.
Word count: 618
Post #8
Final post for Aleksei - we have completed the plot and made it to Opulence, from where the Eminents will sadly have to either walk home, or wait until someone confirms the way to New Valore by train is safe. Opulence is welcoming to those who wish to rest there for a bit.
The wyvern is wounded, but got away. One can only assume she is in Ashlar.
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Post by NorthernMyth on Aug 11, 2018 19:25:39 GMT -6
Thaio flinched at Cyndane’s primping. He didn’t even realise he was bleeding at first. Her words soothed him slightly but he was still on edge. He felt like a sheep in a cage and the lion was slowly prying the bars open for its meal. “I hope it will be.” his voice shaky and quite. “I really don’t feel like being a dragon snack today.” His comment would seem sarcastic if it wasn’t his underlying tone of fear. Thaio watched as his Aunt grabbed a box off a shelf and begin to rifle through it. But their attention was pulled away by Juliet's yelping. Cydane started to speak again and Thaio listened intently. His gaze glanced over at the wall mounted safety case on the wall of the car as she pointed it out. Thaio nodded at her request, though his knees buckled and shook underneath his frame, which reminded him of that of a newborn foal.
The colt trotted hastily over to the case. There was a small keyhole in the metal framework but no key nearby. In a rush of panic as well as annoyance, Thaio took a step back before rearing up on his hind legs ramming the box with his rounded obsidian horn. The glass cracked and it took him a second go before the shards bent to his will. Teke wrapped around the black baton and he yanked it from the remains of the case before cantering and leaping over the small gap between the doorway.
Thaio looked at the baton. White lettering covered its face that read: “Shield Batton. Use only in emergencies.” “Well this is a fucking emergency” he thought. He could see that Scarlet and his step-cousin, Aleksei had banded together. Though unsure what they were physically doing apart from illusionary. But they needed help more than ever. Thaio leapt over to their side before turning 180 degrees and bashing the bottom of the batton against the floor of the car. A bubble of purplish-blue light flashed around the car just in time for a burst of hot flames hit the side of the car. Thaio’s frame shook again. He thought this would be the end of him but the bubble stood strong. The poor metalwork of the car seared under the dragon's flame. Within minutes the dragon blasted at the train again. Their protective bubble glistened into a lighter blue as her flame hit its surface again and Thaio almost panicked as he was sure the batons power would break and they would all be toast.
The colt heard a thud from behind as an equine body hit the floor. His head swivelled around to see Scarlet drop to her knees in exhaustion. He went to move in her direction but before he could do so he felt heavy. But not like a heaviness he had felt before. He was thrown off balance, as well falling to his knees. But the force could have easily taken him off his feet. Thaio heard the shrill creature outside, fall into the ground. A roaring howl bellowed from her as the train continued to pick up the pace again. The colt regained his footing just as Aleksei went down. His nose gushing on the white carpeted flooring.
The horses in the car bustled around to see if everyone was alright. Thaio stood near the back out of the way. Scared shitless she’d come back before they reached Opulance. The train rolled into the station. And Thaio almost leapt from the open car door. He wanted so bad to be on solid ground again. He’d be spending plenty of time here until he had the courage to figure out a way home again.
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Post by Queerly on Sept 12, 2018 0:21:37 GMT -6
 Thank you for participating in Aodh 602!
Rewards to: Aleksei, Cyndane, Scarlet, Clarke, Thaio, Alex, Juliet, Beau
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