A Clash of Spirits - RPLOG
Participants
Date
19/11/476
Log
Later morning deep in the swamps, the air starting to warm from the heat of the sun despite the rapidly approaching winter. Following the last expedition and the discovery of an ooze-covered hunk of stone and creator steel in the area, the royal ranger service has quickly moved into the area in the last few days and established a cordon. Several academics and clergy move within said cordon, doing their best to examine the fallen creator artifact as best as they can while keeping a healthy distance, the foul reek rising from the altar of stone and creator steel probably the least of one's worries. There's an atmosphere of tension about, that's for sure, but one can hardly feel otherwise with this sort of operations going on, especially with what one hears about Spirits these days.
Remembering what happened last time in the swamp Angus came prepared, walking up to one of the rangers in his dragon form. "Good evening." He greats, checking to make sure that his musket is loaded as he looks around to the others.
Falx mainly came along because he felt he should, seeing the possible danger. Plus he does want to use his magic on someone instead of just protecting a boat. Nonetheless, he notes the fact that Angus, Issi, and Alef are here, all those he has already made acquaintence with. That makes it easy.
Issi would like to get closer if the other beings would let her, but they wouldn't despite her not able to smell anything unless her tounge left her mouth. So for now she makes herself useful as a scout hiding in the grass close to the rest of the group. Why was she here after last night? Morbid curiosity mostly.
Alef walks steadly around the cordon, wearing her wading overalls and boots once again, the young mage moody and grumpy as she walks. Despite her earlyer eagerness to assist with the investigation, now that shes actually here its like shes expecting trouble at every moment. using her staff to support her movements through the muck.
Indeed, everyone appears to be on edge, especially those who're familiar with the situation, but that's only to be expected. Some of the rangers look distinctly nervous, especially at the state of the local flora. However, given the lack of any immediate regative reaction from the dripping, oozing slime that wells up from seemingly nowhere on the creator artifact, some of the academics have relaxed somewhat and have actually drawn a bit closer to the thing, even going as far as to prod it with a long pole. The fact that said pole sokes, hisses and chars as it comes into contact with the ooze is enough to deter them from actually touching it or trying to collect samples, though. Some of the rangers let their attention wander enough to question Angus, Alef and Sylera about their past experiences, clearly feeling a little more relaxed now.
Angus smiles at the questions, answering everyone of them that are thrown his way. "hello Falx, Alef. Come to investigate this thing?" He greets before walking up to watch the academics poking the thing with a wooden pole, whistling as the pole seems to hiss and charr after contact.
Issi starts to physically move back away from the thing, watching the pole burn and char. They were right to be wary. Whatever ooze that thing is emiiting it doesn't look like it would be good for anyone's health. Unfortunately this also means the viper is now crouched down in swamp muck, and thankful they aren't wearing anything massively absorbant.
Falx continues to watch the pole and the strange ooze, though back a bit to keep himself from being able to get touched by the strange substance. He looks up at Angus, and doesn't really respond other than a nod, keeping his eyes mostly on the slime. He's curious as to what it is, and perhaps if it has any useful applications. He does, though, also go over some math in his head, preparing for any sort of possible encounter.
Alef nods to Angus and Falx. "Yeah. Iv been told not to do much if any magic, but I heard another group was being sent here... I just couldn't stay away this time. not in good conscience." Sighing lightly. "So im here." Nodding as she answers the academics questions as best she can, frowning as they continue to test it, uneasy around it, as if expecting that thing to reform in responce.
Siyu is in the back, he heard creator tech and just had to come see, of course he wouldn't knwo what to do with it, but the young crafter at least would see if there's any scraps to be had, or adventure. Acidic ooze? Just pouring from an artifact though, that's odd, "I wonder if it's producing it from the soil or somthing..." he tugs on an ear, not sure what it could be. Not as much an academic as a craftsman so he just watches.
From behind the group comes the pattering of feet as another figure joins them, resolving into Sylera the betta. "Sorry I'm late got caug-." She pauses as what the group has already discovered comes into view. "Oh my... I sure hope it isn't the artifact itself making that..."
"No, it's not meant to," one of the machine priests says in reply to Sylera's statement. "There's something wrong here - it's like divine mathemagic, only not so. We can't get a handle on it, nothing we do seems to work. It may come to it, but we may have to destroy this thing, if anything we do to it can even touch it in the first place. It's certainly proving resilient to anything we can throw at it.
The words, though, are quickly cut off as a shout comes off from one side of the perimeter. It appears that the rangers have spotted movement, but they're not quite sure what it is. Still, since everyone friendly is present, when one rules out the impossible, there's only one thing left...
Angus tilts his head a bit as he stares at the artifact, wondering if there was anything they could really d to help cleanse it. Then there was a shout, his head turning in its direction as he brings his musket up to his shoulder. Cautious as he startes to walk forward.
Issi makes their way forward behind Angus, staying low to the ground and ready to break off into a sprint elsewhere if need be. The best thing she has on her, besides maths is a well kept dagger. It was better than hitting things with a branch.
Falx nods at the response to Sylera, taking in the simple statements. If it were divine mathemagic, perhaps he'd be able to do something about it, but nonetheless, it probably isn't, so not much to do. However, the sudden shout instantly catches his attention, and first looks towards it before turning, continuing his preparation in his equations.
Alef frowns "If everything youve tryed has failed its obviously resisting your efforts. attempting to destroy it will only provoke a simaller reaction. Unless you are SURE you can take it out in one go it wouldnt be recommended." her attempt to share her thoughts is cut short as the call goes up, raising her staff to defend as she holds back near the rear of the group.
Siyu tuns his head around as he's towards the back anyway and therefore closer to the perimeter, Moving now to make sure his back is towards the middle of the group, "Uh...I wonder what that could be..." he mummers getting ready for a fight, not quite sure what is coming.
Sylera grips her staff tighter at the mention of mathemagic. That was one question answered though it raised a new one, whose? She starts to carefully skirt the edge of this... Anomaly to observe but the shout draws her attention away from the thing and towards the disturbance. Staff raised.
Selena coughs quietly as she makes her way through the mire tentatively - late, to be sure; very late, though not too much so. Quietly nodding to a figure behind her, she moves quickly over to the remainder of the group with a slight shiver. "I never liked swamps." She mutters simply, keeping her usual greetings short this time and readying herself in the tense atmosphere. "Angus, it's good to see you again. Alef, I'm glad to see you've made a full recovery."
The murky-grey green water shifts and ripples, something moving beneath the surface, and soon, what it is - or what a lot of them are, to be more precise - is revealed: blobs of slime, festering over with swamp gas, have converged upon this spot. Whether it was an active ambush, set up long ago, or perhaps just in response to the machine priests poking at the fallen altar with a stick, is better left to one's imagination as everyone hastens to defend themselves. The group is best left to their own portion of the ring of putrefaction that surfaces, holding their own line as best as they can.
Siyu is bleeding, feeling the acid tingling and burning his flesh, "Damn it all, burn these things, they hurt worse then molten iron..." he shakes his arms, "Are they attracted to the artifact?"
Angus shakes himself a bit, trying to get the burning acidic slime off his form. "By the creators, that stings!" He shouts, holding his musket in his right hand, dagger in the left as he looks around for anything else that wants to attack them.
It's not over yet. As the depredations of the slime ring continue to batter away at those trapped in the middle, there's a new threat from within: choking, searing mist starts pouring from the altar, flowing forth like a broken fountain and threatening to overwhelm those within. The group is forced to deal with this new threat, while the ranger continue staving off the slimes.
Alef is feeling it already, slinging fire and channeling wind as best she can to hold off the slime, one getting lucky and landing on her earlyer she stands with decaying, melting robes and padded armor below, some of the fur on her left cheek seered of as she has no words to spare for chat. the Miasma appering lost on her as she focuses on the fight.
Sylera staggers on what is left of her staff, much of the wood eaten by the acidic slime. Sploches more the bettas fins but for the moment at least she seems to still be standing and ready to go, turning to meet the new threat.
Issi is already visibibly wounded, and not in the greatest shape from those slimes. She has just done what she can to keep herself from bleeding more when the Miasma starts flowing. The only thing she can think to do is wrap her somewhat bloodstained cloak around her face.
Siyu turns his head back to see the Miasma forming, and he balks a little, "It's coming from the artifact...should we...should we just bury it, bury it in the swamp and leave it? Does anyone have enough earth magic?"
Falx takes a few moments to collect himself, only to notice the strange miasma making its way out. He takes a step back, currently lacking any real magic to defend himself or those around him. However, he will stand and do what is necessary, mainly because there are those here who didn't escape the previous battle without injury.
Selena looks back to the group, pursing her lips. "Burying it could be worse, depending on what 'it' has planned for these things." She comments, closing her eyes shut at the stinging mist beginning to pervade the area. "Might be able to try and break it, if we can deal with this fog and whatever else is here, though. If we had more earth mages it'd be a lot easier to try... But for now, the less acid the better." She notes, her standard gestures being made to produce a burst of wind that pushes back the haze - or at least, for now.
Alef hates this Will o' Wisp. 3166774. is hated by the wisp, 32990
Falx slowly rises back to standing straight and adjusts his robe, looking about at those present. He takes account of who is still here, and who is injured. Those were not easy to deal with, though, luckily, he did get to have some fun with his Dark Magic against more practical targets. Still, he does return to keeping himself prepared, going over spell effects and how to cause them, just to keep himself ready for any other encounters.
"Wow..." Sylera is barely standing at this point, more like leaning on the nearly dissolved staff, though oddly enough seemed to hold her own better than the slimes just prior. Still there are a few new wounds upon the betta though she seems to look to the others first. "Is... Everyone alright?"
Selena takes deep, slow breaths, moving back over the grounds - though the fighting's clearly taken some degree of a toll on her, she looks over at the remains of the gops from before. "Well... Two options here..." She manages, looking about the area. "Either we deal with THAT immediately, as a group" - emphasis on group - "Or I can go about and give the gops a poke. That'd only be a problem if a certain old one's got a stake in them, but I'd rather not want to deal with them again later." She comments, moving over to the gooey remains of one of them and taking out her pact baton. "Any thoughts before I start?"
Angus pants a little as he wipes blood from his brow. "Well, think that thing is done...." He mutters as he shoulders his empty rifle and starts checking over his form, wanting to make sure that his injuries weren't truly bad. "Well Selena, I'm all up for taking these things out." He answers at Selena's question.
Issi isn't doing well. She was alrady wounded by the slimes and whatever that was didn't help, she was very much not in a good way. She's barely standing, and very much visibly bleeding.
Defeated and unable to retain its form, the last of the corrosive mist blows away, dispersed by Selena's winds. Several of the rangers are badly hurt by the caustic slimes and are being seen to by the machine priests, while the remainder draw in together about the reduced perimeter, hoping that nothing else is going to come rushing out of the muck.
~My creatures! Worthless! Weak! I give them an ambush, and this is all they can do?~ The swamp pratically begins to boil, churning and frothing, old, dead branches breaking and falling from the twisted trees. Something is manifesting itself, and not in a good way - already exhausted, the rangers look to each other, trying to rally themselves for anything that is to come.
Selena sighs quietly as the swamp starts to roil, shivering a little at the change in atmosphere. A quick jab into the gop later and she moves back to the group. "Maybe you should pay attention to reinforcements. But I suppose gops don't know much about tactics." she laughs, taking a critical eye to a certain object in need of destruction. "Well, Angus, I know you two didn't get along the first time, but I think it'd be better to bring in some extra. Don't you?" She comments, beckoning to the side; "Kendrac, you're wanted here."
A rip in space heralds the deer-like being's entry, spear well at the ready as he does. "It would behoove you to tell me why you call, Selena." Kendrac states, energy rolling off of the diety in intimidating waves - "Akros." He sneers; "You've as much wit as your followers, I see."
That voice was rather familiar, causing a certain dragon fox to sneer. "Akros! You wretched black stain!" Angus shouts, growling a bit as he lifts his dagger. Then Selena catches his attention, his gaze turning to her. As she summons Kendrac, the fox stepping away from the spirit warily as he scowls.
