The Craige Strike - RPLOG
Participants
Date
13/3/478
Log
It is a hot and clear day on the slopes of the mountain. There is a full military contingent arrayed in formation looking down the slope toward a small, farming settlement swarming with the strange lizard creatures that so recently surfaced. There is no sign of any of the villagers, but a tall fox in a captain's uniform is looking down over the ridge, waiting for the volunteers he called for.
Cassidy adjusts her hat as she draws closer, taking a deep breath. It'd been a while since she actually faced open combat! This would be interesting. She'd have to take precautions to stay safe, certainly, already conjuring up her fiery embers to swarm around her like a defense shell. "Hello there."
Markus was starting to overheat in this heavy armor, but he soldiered on. He climbs the ridge, stepping up to the captain. "Alright. I'm here." He says, removing his helm to wipe at his brow.
Rokarion has just returned from Cliffside, not like that anyone might have noticed really. Training in Creator's technology and language, visiting ancient ruins it was indeed quite the lovely trip this time around. With a yawn, the heavy-cloak clad plant reaches the camp, not enough time to rest but it does not matter. Looking around, the youthful jasmine heads towards the fox, noticing his officer regalia.
Rev lifts his armored left hand to shield his eyes from the sun. The large armored wolf climbs up to the ridge, and arrives at camp not long after Rokarion. His right hand tightening around his spear. Which he has been using as a walking stick.While his claymore remains securely strapped to his back. After briefly looking about he heads straight to where everyone else appesrs to be gathering.
The creak and clatter of metal plate (and a long chain coif for his neck, of course) announces the arrival of the brave little Giraffe, Llewellyn. He seems nearly enthusiastic about this call to battle, offering something of a cheery wave to Cassidy--even if she had broken his heart by showing no interest in him. The smile flickers a little bit seeing the other odds and ends gathered--a conscript in pinged armor? An effeminate flower--who is, of course, taller than him? Hmph. Well, it looks they'd need someone stalwart as him.
"Alright, fellas. I'll do my best to keep you all safe, but if you act a fool, I ain't sacrificing my ass to save yours!" he calls to nobody in particular, a smug grin on his face.
Angus rests his hand on the guard of his Saber as he arrives, his golem Mister curled around his shoulders as it regards the scene. It had been to long since he had even thought of combat, feeling like he was starting to loose his edge before the call came out, and he lept for the chance. "Good Afternoon." He mutters, nearly smiling as he hears Llewellyn speak up. "I will keep that in mind thanks."
Serana hums lightly, the shark flicking his tail with a soft hum. He hasn't been in a real battle once in his life, but he's been in enough skirmishes to not show any real nervousness. However, he didn't know the first thing about battlefield tactics, but, he imagined he could sit back, relax, and shoot everything that moved that wasn't in firmamentian colors. "Yo."
A downright -cold- gust of wind scythes through the hot, arid afternoon as Natska lands in the camp at Cassidy's side. She flashes her wife a quick smile, then settles her black domino mask in place as she looks over the rest of the group. "Excellent," she decides, then nods to the officer, her ears perking.
The captain turns from the view of the overrun town to his gathered volunteers. "Good," he says, "you are here. As you can see, things are rather dire here." He waves a hand at the draconian soldiers swarming through the little town. "Things are rather worse than we thought they were," he says, turning away from the group to look down over the chaos, "They came up through the ground at dawn. There was a sudden crack in the middle of town and those things swarmed up like roaches. Only three beings managed to escape. The beasts don't seem interested in moving yet, or they would already be in Firmament. They are up to something. We think that there are survivors down there." The fox looks to the group around him. "Your task is to go down there and find out what they are up to," he says, "Find any survivors and destroy as many of those monsters as you can. Are there any questions?"
Cassidy offers a return wave to Llewellyn, accompanied with an unseen smile before she nods at Angus. "Hmmm. Seems straight forward. I'm surprised they didn't just move on after taking the town. I never took them for the type to hold taken land. But we'll find any survivors."
Markus looks down at the draconic soldiers, and puts his helmet on, looking over those assembled. "Seems like quite the motley crew..." He says, drawing a sword and putting it over his shoulder. "Who will lead the charge?
Angus gives the captain a nod, turning his gaze over to the town as the cold gust of wind sweeps past him. "Lets hope this isn't just a forward reconissance party for something larger." The prospect of them holding land was a disturbing one, they had never been focused on territory whenever he had seen him, what had changed now. His tail swishes a bit as he folds his arms over his chest, turning the gesture into an excuse to meddle with a few parts of the Golem Grasper over his right forearm as he thinks.
Rev scratches at his chin with one of the clawed tips of his gauntlet. "So the job is save the villiagers, and kill anything that get's in the way. Seems simple enough. Sooo no questions on my part." He says as he nods to the captain.
Llewellyn pulls his long face into a grim line of determination, though it's not hard to hear the enthusiasm in his voice. "How's this. You, and you," he indicates, having not learned any newcomers' names, "you're armored? Flank me. Everyone else behind. Spellcasters" (he spits out with a bit of disgust) "and archers, back row. Everyone else, be ready to grab and escort survivors." The Giraffe barks his orders so sternly, it's hard to believe that he's never actually led a charge...
Natska gives her head a small shake. "Either there is something they want there, or they came up because they had to. We'll have to refrain from just wiping them out until we have it sorted... Captain, you have earth mages listening for other tunnels too, yes?"
Rokarion nods towards the captain as he idly mulls something in his head before eyeing the area underneath, "Well, I guess I have no questions, unless you have some information about what kind of weapons they use and anything about their offensive and defensive capabilities." He answers, a layer of stone already forming around him as he finishes the mental equation.
Natska gives Llewellyn a faint frown. "I hope you can move quietly. We should infiltrate first, secure any survivors, and determine what they are doing before we assault."
The Solacious Captain nods to Natska. "Yes, we have a team of Earthshakers watching the tunnel. But it is difficult to distinguish their tunneling from the natural fissures of Firebough. They seem to have a bit of magic of their own," he explains, then looks to Rokarion as he summons up his earthen armor, "You know as much as I do. This is the first we have ever seen these creatures on this side of the mountain." He waves and the horde of bipedal monsters. "They are part being, and part elemental," he says, "And they seem to come in several shapes and sizes. So far, all we have seen are the little being sized ones, but that is not to say that they are the only things down there. I wish you luck," he says, snapping a sharp salute, "I must prepare my troops. If you can escape with the prisoners, or if there are no prisoners, then signal us and my men will attack."
Markus looks down at the draconic warriors, scratching his chin. He walks over to Angus and then peers down at the masses below. "What do you think of this situation, sir?"
Llewellyn brings a gauntleted hand to his helmet with a clank. "I'm in full plate. Nobody moves quietly in full plate," he huffs to Natska. "But they're destroying the town, and you want to take more time and leave the survivors at risk for longer?"
After thinking for a moment, he gives a short hmph. "It seems they're not taking hostages, so it's not about keeping them alive as a bargaining chip. Armor draws attention, and you can search for survivors. How's that?" he asks impatiently, hot to trot into combat--for honor and glory!
Angus shrugs his shoulders as he draws his Saber, mister stirring from his silent slumber on the foxes shoulders to jump to the ground. "A head on assault will accomplish nothing. These creatures do not fight like you or I, and they do not know the meaning of retreat from what I have seen. If you ask my opinion if you want to charge them go ahead, but our mages and those efficent in firearms should circle around and provide support while searching for survivors." He taps the tip of his saber as he waits silently, ready to spring when they finally get moving.
Cassidy frowns at Llewellyn, shaking her head. "We should move together. Or at least, no one by themselves. We don't want any casualties today, Llewellyn. What would I tell Kalt if you were to be injured or worse, hm?" She adjusts her hat and flexes her fingers. "But we'll make it out of here today."
Rokarion gives the captain a nod of understanding before moving closer to the group hands taking out a small notebook and a pen as they part their clock to the side, no sense in making obstructions during combat after all. Rokarion glances the loud, tiny giraffe before looking back at the village, waiting for when the group decides to move.
Markus nods. "Ok. So we need to make a decision.... Some kind of pincer maneuver?" He says, hefting his sword down to rest on the ground.
Rev still thoughtfully scratching his chin moved to look down at their next desrination. "Hmmmmmm at anyrate a distraction would be a good idea no? Draw the attention if the craige To a more isolated area, and keep them there as long as possible. While a group of us search for survivors." The wolf muses out loud."Or do we have a better options?"
His work here done, the Captain leaves the volunteers to do their job.
Below, the reptiles swarming around the town seem to be moving steadily to and from the little town square where they seem to be erecting some sort of structure from materials scavenged and stolen from the buildings of the town. And bits of the town as well.
From this distance, it is difficult to make out much more than that, but there seems to be no sign of any movement aside from the reptiles in the small gathering of low buildings. And no corpses either. Either the town's inhabitants have been rounded up or they have been. . . stored.
Llewellyn flushes quite badly when Cassidy brings up Kalt. It's none of your damn business, he's tempted to say. But Angus catches his wrath instead, as the Giraffe takes umbrage at how he specifically was not mentioned in the Fox's plans. "And what would you have us do?" he grumps, hitching a thumb at Rev and Markus. "Stand here and play pattycake with each other, and leave it all to the marksmen and mages, and just HOPE that the surviors hold out that long?" he spits.
Markus walks over to Llewellyn's side and puts a armored hand on the little giraffe's shoulder. "I'm with you." He says, his sword hefted over his shoulder.
Serana was off by himself, watching over the assembled below "So... Does anyone notice them building whatever it is their building down there?" he asks, to the group. Wether or not they heard him, however, was a different story entirely
Natska snorts. She reaches out and pats Llewellyn on the head, then starts to move down towards the village. "Just keep up, if you can," she says. "And try not to draw their attention until after we find the survivors, I'm not carrying your body home." As she moves another chill breeze springs up around her, although this one is subtle, muting noises that might leave the group as they move. "
"If you want to run distraction, that's fine, I'm just saying don't try to do it -alone-. No one person will be a distraction for very long." Cassidy shakes her head and folds her hands behind her back. She sets off with Natska, her own steps falling mute as she strides alongside the jaguar.
Angus perks his ears just a bit as he is addressed, turning a firey gaze upon the giraffee as he reigns in his precombat jitters. "I would be more then happy to wade right into the fray and show you that wearing the heaviest plate means nothing if you know what you are doing. I thought Kalt would of taught you that at least." He huffs a bit, biting back any more remarks. "Let us be quick about it eitherway, the longer we wait the higher chance they have of moving." He states, already on the move to follow Natska with Mister at his heels.
Serana shrugs "Guess they'll find out soon." he offers, following after the group already making their way down. Truth be told, he had absolutely no idea what it is he would even do in this situation. He didn't even know if the things he'd be firing at would die if you shot it enough."
"Your enemy won't wait long," a voice suddenly says from off to the side of the group, "His patience wears thin." The voice is attached to an outlandishly dressed fox that most certainly was not there a moment ago, swaggering along beside them. "Soon, he'll be strong, and I fear you can't win," he says, frowning down at the industrious Craige. "He has them all, both young and old," he says, "There in his hall, like hoarded gold." The fox point at the strange structure being built.
Down below, the Craige seem to be finishing their work, a rough dome taking shape under their hands. They must be using some sort of magic to complete the structure so quickly.
Rokarion lets the Sweetwaters argue among themselves with an idle eyeroll, before moving towards the married couple and the fox as they move towards the village, idly writing notes on his notebook meanwhile, while constantly glancing his surroundings.
"Then we destroy it," Cassidy says as she eyes the dome. "Nothing is unkillable. We aren't leaving the survivors. If they have them, we'll get rid of them. Of course... Why don't -you- stop them? I never took you as one for rules," Cassidy says with a wry grin.
Markus leaves Llewellyn's side and falls into step behind Angus, ready for anything as he listens to the outlandish fox, looking upon the dome. "I think we need to pick up the pace..." Markus says, jogging slightly ahead of the group.
Rev blinks as he looks over his shoudler. "Hey don't just go lumping me in with you." He says before looking back down, and stares at the monument, or whatever the weird lizards are slapping together happens to be. "Well I think perhaps it would be a good idea to have a group attack their little....Construction site. While the others search for survi...." The large wolf traiks off when the outlandish fox makes an appearance. "Well we best get a move on then." He mutters as he stalks off after the departing geoup.
Angus flashes the outlandish fox a bit of a grin, not expecting to see one such as him out here! "Then we have our answer, time is a wasting ladies and gentleman!" With that he goes quiet, his attention and focus already turning towards what will soon turn into a battle field as Mister's eyes flash.
Rokarion shifts his gaze idly as he sees the outlandish fox next to the group, the jasmine does not afford the vulpine any comment, but he give him a long studious look, flipping a page on his book and beginning to draw on it. Looks like the young plantlet is not at all bothered with the Criage as of now.
Llewellyn boggles for a moment at the nattily-dressed Spirit. Only until his rhymes confirm Llewellyn's urgency, though. "See? The mysterious stranger says I'm right, and--," he pauses, suddenly noticing they're already advancing. Bastards!
"Wait!" the Giraffe calls, hastily catching up with the others. "A Legion is only strong united!"
Serana humphs "Then hurry up and get down here then!" the shark responds. The third(?) fox's words has her a little unsettled, but she proceeds on anyway pistols drawn and a one of her dual cutlass' waiting.
"Alas," the outlandish fox says, keeping pace with the crowd, "By rules I am bound. I'll come to grief should I be found. I'll help you as I can, I swear, but the family must not be aware." He does not start to run as the others pick up the pace, but somehow his swaggering gait allows him to keep up. "Strike hard and fast, oh heroes mine," he says, "Be strong and firm and hold the line. Be a sword, blade shining bright. I'll be there when the time is right." There is a sudden wet tearing sound and the fox is gone, a long, purple feather fluttering in the air where he stood."
Meanwhile, the little town's invaders seem to be vanishing into the strange structure they have made. It does not match the wild miltary stand that the Craige have favored up until now. But the strange dome stands their waiting. One contingent of ten of the being sized Craige stand in the street, apparently aware of the approaching heroes and are waiting for them, but with only a fraction of their force. Something is definitely going on here.
The Craige look like large, bipedal reptiles, but instead of scales, their flesh appears to be sculpted from agregate rubble and stone with cracks of fire glowing along their limbs and faces. Each of them sports a long tail with wicked spikes, sharp, shale teeth and clawed limbs. They do not seem to have any armor or clothing, but with hides like that, they probably do not need them. Several of them are armed with wicked looking spears.
Rev briefly pauses to pick up the feather. Before hurrying up to follow along with the others. Tucking the feather away within his breast plate. As his longer strides carry him acrosss the distance between the lot of them. "Well what's our plan?"
Cassidy takes in another deep breath as the group approaches, eyeing the force left outside as she prepares for mind for what is soon to come. "Typical spirits. Scared of breaking their silly rules. I will provide support from the back. Make your choice on how to proceed."
Serana hums "Shoot first, ask questions later?" he suggests, flicking his tail some "Good method of dealing with things. Effective, and doesn't hurt." he suggests, "Another good thing might be kill anything that doesn't look normal."
Angus took his time reaching their foes, they already knew that they were here so rushing would do nothing. He tightens his golem glove into a fist as he starts to smile. "I've never had a chance to fight one of these things one on one, lets see how they hold up eh?" He comments, flashing the rest of the group a smile as he continues forward.
"Well then," Natska replies as she eyes the Craige in the street. "They are here to slow us down. Don't let them do that. Crush them quickly, get inside," she advises, even as she builds up her shielding winds. A flurry of snow quickly turns into a full localized blizzard, although the blowing snow is translucent to Natska's allies, and the bitter, biting cold merely the suggestion of the memory of the heart of winter to those that have yet to earn her ire.
Markus locks his sword in a charging stance and looks to the other two heavily-armored beings. "Shall we?" He asks, still advancing with the group but ready to charge.
Rokarion stops as he notices a barrel of water near one of the abandoned houses, the plant being wastes no time as he murmurs some incantations, equation after equation being solved as he attempts to summon a water elemental from all the water in the barrel.
It doesn't take long for Llewellyn to hop on Angus's case. "Oh, when I say advance, it's all 'no, we'll wait them out with our mages,' and now you want to fight them alone?" A snort. "Armor, shield wall!" he calls to Rev and Markus, raising his scutum and readying a pilum. "Advance in step! One! Two! One!" he calls, trying to form a cadence.
Rev moves in ahead of those not heavily armored. Raising his spear in preperation to stab at the first of the enemy to come into his range. As the group proceeds forward. The wolf lutting himself there so that his armored frame would act as a sheild for the mages, and theur gunslingers. While at the same time his body begins to shift into that of a kirin.
Before the melee group engages to complicate things, Cassidy conjures up a little storm of her own from the heavens. Except unlike Natska's cold, it's one of explosive and burny fire, targeted just above the Craige.
Markus steps into line with Llewellyn and Rev, his sword held up. He had no shield but he would try to make use of himself.
Serana wasn't so mathey or as heavily armored, or even experienced as most of everyone else. However, what she was good at was dumping as many bullets as she could possibly lob down range. She would, of course, try to hit something.
The strange quiet is shattered as the group springs into action! The waterbarrel empties itself into the empty air, following Rokarion's magic that gives it form. Meanwhile, the Craige seem to suddenly slow, their strange, inner fires dimming as Natska's magical mist surrounds them. They reptilian monsters start to move toward the group as one, much more organized than Llewellyn's impromptu phalanx. Three of the five spear weilders raise their weapons and loose as one, still eerily silent and in perfect unison. Llewellyn deflects the first, and Rev's armor turns aside the second, but the last spear finds a gap in poor Markus' armor, slamming hard into the coyote's shoulder and breaking the advancing shield wall.
Rev's rushing attack is at least effective in bringing him to grips with the first line of Craige as he slams his own spear home into the chest of one unfortunate monster.
Serana manages to land a hit on one of the silent Craige, but it is not enough to drop the thing, only spreading further cracks in its stony hide.
Then Cassidy plays her card, dropping meteoric fire into the midst of the advancing monsters! The concussive force of her spell shatters the air and sends them sprawling, the lava-esque glow fading from one of the fallen. The rest still seem game, and quickly get back to their feet, their forced slowness seemingly dispelled from their limbs.
Angus takes up the chrage when he notices Markus going down, barking to Mister to cover the coyote while they get their bearings. He slips in through the hole in the wall, tightening his golem glove into a fist as he works to crack one of their skulls!
Rev steps back, and gives his spear a yank. While raising his armored foot. To boot the creature of the end of his spear. Then moves on to lash out at the next of their enemy who steps into range.
Cassidy grins a little when the first attack rings true, though she makes no further actions. She'll let the rest press the attack before seeing if she's still needed. Have to conserve strength for the main force, after all!
Llewellyn grunts hard as his shield turns aside a blow. He knew this would work! ...well, until Markus went down. "Shit!" he manages to call, hefting his shield. "They threw their spears--press before they're ready!" he shouts, thrusting his scutum forward and hoping top knock one off with a shield bash, his pilum in hand and ready for a thrust.
Rokarion turns around and moves once more towards the group, the orb of water following him diligently. With another idle yawn, the mage orders his water elemental to materialize, out of its form, and direct shards of freezing ice towards the Criage, Rokarion himself resolving some quickly written equations on his notebook to increase the speed of those shards, the deadly icicles increasing their momentum towards the lizard-elementals.
Serana smirks, she hit one. Switching to the last couple pistols she had, she would dump yet another volly into the ranks of the Enemy, specifically around the one she hit last.
Natska remains back, letting the others charge forward. She does, however, maintain her magical one-sided blizzard, and with a slight frown and additional focus she reaches out to tear the warmth directly from the Craige.
While Llewellyn's shield is a bit too low to strike any of the Craige in a vital spot, it is more than enough to shatter a kneecap, taking one of the strangely silent Craige out of the fight.
Serana's next shot takes a Craige in the eye, dropping the thing almost instantly, its inner glow fading as its fire fades.
Rev manages something very similar with his spear, and Angus' golem powered punch slams through the torso of a rocky reptile. Natska's frigid foray seems to be doing the trick, allowing Rokarion and his elemental to incapacitate the last of the beasts.
Throughout it all, not one of them uttered so much as a sound. It is disquieting to say the least. But the way seems to be open!
"Well done," Cassidy says, closing the distance as she claps her gloved hands together briefly. "They are dealt with, and enough time wasted. We need to do something about this dome before whatever is happening in there finished. We don't want to lose those survivors."
Serana hums "Are the survivors even in there, is the question." she offers, going through the process of reloading her pistols. "It may be that they are somewhere else, or dead."
Rev yanks his spear from the corpse of his latest slain enemy. His eyes narrowing as he ponders just how quiet rhe Craige had been. "Anyone else find it to be odd that these guys didn't utter a peep?" He asks as he gived the downed criage infront of him a kick. "At anyrate we best move on. If our fox friend from earlier is right. We don't have time to sit around."
Angus watches as the Craige fall, shaking his glove to scatter rock fragments. "It's the same when you fight the undead, well for the most part. They still groan and all that stuff." HE answers to Rev as Mister moves to his side, the little golem sitting and looking around as they stand. "Lets just get in and take these guys out."
Llewellyn doesn't like the way the battlefield was silent. It's not the way these things are supposed to go. But nonetheless, they're downed, and he gives the one he knocked over a contemptuous shot in the face with the butt of his pilum.
"Yeah," he agrees with Rev. "But we're not here to wonder that over, we're here to save their lives." The Giraffe turns his attention to the dome, banging on it with the spear, looking for an entrance or purchase to climb up, or...a hint of some way to get through or dismantle it. "Have to agree with you for once, Fox," he grudgingly murmurs to Angus.
Natska frowns, the jaguar following Cassidy and the rest down the street towards the building, kicking some of the rubble as they pass. "Last time they were certainly more vocal," she agrees. "Perhaps they have something like a Shadow-mind controlling this bunch?" she asks thoughtfully, head tilting to the side as though listening for silent music on the wind.
Markus is down, though not out. The spear is sunken into his shoulder and his weapon is dropped as he struggles to keep himself at least on one foot. With the little fox golem watching over him, it appears that he has suffered no further harm. Not that he was getting any better.
Serana surveys the field a bit, noticing the still downed Markus "You know... Perhaps someone should wrap him up? That spear looked like it hurt." he offers, flicking his tail some and pointing to the 'yote. "Perferably someone who knows medicine."
Rokarion moves down towards the group, the bored looking mage walking towards the group, glancing Markus and gesturing for the coyote closer, "You look injured, sir. Would you like me to quickly patch you up?" the plant utters for the first time during this trip, the youngling's voice as nonchalant and emotionless as his expressions, but he is already taking out a satchel from underneath his cloak, standing with the group as he eyes Markus.
Even those Craige with non-fatal injuries seem to have stopped moving, the sullen glow fading from their hides. Ahead, the strange dome, cobbled from buildings and furniture and loose supplies looms. There is an opening at the dome's base, large enough for three heavy folk to walk abreast. A lurid glow, like a low flame throbs within.
Rev hurriedly marches towards the dome. His spear at the ready as they search for the entrance. Leaving markus to be cared for by rokarion. "Well let's see just what is directing their actions." The large Kirin takes point, and heads inside.
Markus eyes Rokarion. "Well no shit, its just a splinter. My shoulder is completely shattered, so by all means, patch me up..." He says, trying to work the spearhead loose with a pained grunt.
Angus slides his Saber back into its scabbered, drawing his cut down musket as he scowls a bit. This was taking to long, the situation needed to be resolved fast as he steps up alongside Rev to see what awaits them inside, Mister silently padding behind them, his jaws starting to glow soft with an inner light as he readies himsefl.
Llewellyn follows shortly behind Rev, shield up. Maybe he couldn't keep the other fools safe, but he had fared well for himself. The brave, noble miniature Giraffe willingly takes co-point to defend the rest of this ragtag band...
Rokarion raises an unamused eyebrow at the coyote, "I see this is your version of a civilized thank you when someone offers you help?" the plant adds nonchalantly, "You can either rephrase that or you can forget about it." He says as he follows the group towards the dome, on a slower, sauntering pace.
Markus sighs. Great, the plant was a cynic. "Ohhh.... grrr.... Fine! Help me, please!" He calls, spear still lodged in his shoulder despite his attempts to remove it.
Cassidy pats her sleeves off as she stands before the entrance, letting the giraffe take the lead. "Shall we, then? We have no clue what to expect inside, but... Well. For all we know there's some kind of ritual sacrifice in progress. And we certainly can't let that go uninterrupted."
Serana chuckles "Relax." the sailor offers, walking past the 'yote and to the entrance "Well, shall we continue then?" he asks, removing a cutlass as opposed to dual-weilding pistols again. She didn't have the space advantage to shoot without hitting someone.
Rokarion stops in his tracks and shrugs before turning back towards Markus, giving him a nod before gesturing for him to lay on the ground, the plant proceeding to mend him as best as he could.
Natska nods her head in agreement as she continues down the street at a quick pace, her maths at the ready for an opportune target.
Markus lies back, having managed to snap the spear mostly off, leaving about 7 inches of shaft and the head still buried in his shoulder.
Inside the dome is. . . strange. While the outside was a composite of all sorts of bric-a-brac, the inside looks like a natural cave. Along the walls are regularly spaced balls of swirling magma, embedded into the walls with strange magic to serve as lamps. Dozens of Craige soldiers line the walls, all facing a pit in the center of the dome. The whole thing is about fifty paces across, which should not be possible. Somehow, the inside is bigger than the outside! Spaced evenly at the edge of the pit are the people of the village, a dozen beings of various shapes and sizes, all bound and gagged.
Directly across the large room is another Craige, this one is one of the more intelligent, winged variety. "You are too late," the huge monster roars in a voice like boulders knocking together and a mouth not meant for speech, "Too weak!" The hulking, draconian beast paces on the far side of the pit on four pillar sized legs, its wings folded against its back.
Cassidy lifts her hand towards the speaking Cragie. "Nah," she says, working her lighting up to try to strike the tall one right in the face with a large bolt of lightning. She wasn't going to let it drag on. No time for trading words!
Angus lets his gaze roam over the situation, his ears perking as he hears the larger Craige. He drops into a low stance, his gun snapping up into a firing position as he aims, then fires!
Rokarion finishes patching Markus up and gives him a pat on his head, "Now try and not get yourself killed." He says, if it was an attempt at being patronizing then it surely failed as he delivered it like he delivers everything else he says, without any emotion attached. Rokarion quickly puts the satchel behind his cloak and rushes towards the dome, eyeing the place with an idle gaze, but there is a hint of interest in there for sure. Having just arrived he simply orders his water elemental to fire while he prepares his own actions.
Quick to step up to her wife's aid, the jaguar lets her fimbulwinter expand again to envelop the area in icy chill, while she sets her focus to tearing the heat from the Craige leader, working to disable it so the others can score the kill.
Serana hmms, looks to the duo before "Wait no what if it's impor-" yup. Couldn't prevent the attacks "tant..." she sighs "Now you probably just pissed him off and we don't even know why this happened in the first place."
Rev begins to jog around the pit. no sense in sitting around and letting the big bastard keep on living after all. The large Kirin trades out his spear for the Claymore strapped to his back. As he approaches the large beast. Preparing to cut at his large pillar like legs as soon as he get's close enough, and if he get's close enough.
Llewellyn certainly didn't expect the battle to escalate quite so quickly. After hearing the gigantic boulderlike monster speak, he's in a state of awe--until the crack of thunder bursts as lightning rips through the air. That gets him into panic mode. "Fall in behind--I'll protect you!" he calls to the group, both hands propping up the shield now. So brave! So loyal!
Markus stands, his shoulder bandaged and the remains of the spear clutched in one hand as he uses his sword as a support. He reaches the edge of the door and leans on it, trying to think how he can help his comrades.
The monstrous beast roars at the magical and projectile onlsaught, flames erupting from its maw and magma spilling between its obsidian shard teeth. Strangely, none of the surrounding Craige move to protect their apparent master. Though that might just be an effect of Natska's powerful ice spell.
"TOO WEAK!" The beast shrieks, lashing about with its wickedly barbed tail and only narrowly missing the approaching Rev. The Craige is obviously hurt, but definitely not down. "You are stronger than the firstcomers," the hideous thing slurs, "But your gods have abandoned you!" It kicks the nearest villager into the pit, its own roaring drowning out the piteous cry of the poor being. "But mine are coming!" it shrieks, "The gods of the," it screams something that might almost sound like Craige, if it were shouted by a thousand damned souls in a furnace of burning ice, "will devour this world as they have all others!"
Cassidy reacts quickly, with a quick gesture of her head towards the falling being to try to incite aid as she conjures up a gale to catch the fallen, trying to lift them to safety. "Those with the ability, help me make sure none of them fall down."
Angus shoves his gun back into his belt, drawing his Saber as he moves around the pit. "We call us weak, but we aren't the ones crying in pain from the simple attacks of beings! You are nothing but blocks of granite cowering behind your pathetic gods you are trying to summon!" He shouts in anger, a snarl accenting his voice as one of the villagers is nearly pushed in. Stepping forward beside Rev he swings his Saber at their foe in distain, Mister leaping into the fray himself with his steel claws and fangs.
Rev ducks, and picks up the pace as the barbed tail passed over him. And at the last second lashes out at the tail with his claymore. As he keeps moving. "Come on you big fat bastard. I'm over here." Rev roars as he presses forward, and presded his attack.
Rokarion lets out another bored yawn, as he moves closer towards the group, but Cassidy's magical gale is obviously being supported by another one, getting the villager back outside of the pit or attempting at least. Rokarion's water elemental decides to aim and take fire on one of the Criage who are doing nothing.
Serana sighs "Why the hell does everyone always anger the big ones..." she offers, removing her pistols and lobbing shots, no real accuracy to be had here. This point, she was just shooting to shoot something, bullets flying everywhere in the big guy's general direction!
Markus limps into the structure, trying to get the attention of one of the spellcasters. "Uhh... I think we need to be careful... I dont think the floor is entirely safe!" He calls, fumbling around to swap his soul gems and discard his heavy armor.
Natska levels a faint frown at the boss-Craige, then purses her lips for a moment as Cass and Rokarion save the falling Being. She stares for a moment, then flicks her wrist, and tries using her air magic to catch the Creature off balance and into the pit.
Llewellyn grits his teeth and advances slowly over to the right side near the clot of villagers. "Out! Run! Door!" he bellows, knowing they're probably in no mind to handle any serious orders.
"I'll protect you!" he shouts--a tall order for someone only knee-high to some of the beings--but damned if he didn't believe it himself, shield hoisted and spear out and up, trying to remain between them and any nearby Craige...
The huge Craige rages at the far edge of the pit, stomping and thrashing as the Freeswords harrass it. Angus' saber slashes seem to have little effect on the beast, but Rev manages to get in a solid slash, cracking the monster's stony hide. The sudden burst of air magic is powerful and rocks the big monster, but it is not enough to move this mountain.
The smaller beasties around the edge of the room suddenly take a silent step forward, going to finish the job that the big one started! Even thought the first being was saved and is lying bound beside the pit, none of them are safe yet! The villiager nearest Llewellyn stares at him pleadingly, bound and gagged as she is. None of those people are running anywhere.
"New plan! Keep the Cragie back!" Cassidy calls, focusing her air math now in a radiating gust on all sides, originating from the center, to try to blast the Craige back from the beings, and the edge of the pit in the process, hoping to delay them as long as possible. "Try to get the captives free!"
Markus limps forward, reaching the bound and gagged being and using the spear to slit her bonds. "Get out of here. Now!" He says, freeing her.
Rev growls in deligbt at the sight of the cracks forming in the beasts stondy hide. His lips curl upwards a bit smugly. As he presses his attack further. Aiming to stack on the damage by repestedly striking in the more or less dsme area of his first strike. The muscle in his right ark bulging a bit visibly as he putd every last bit of his strength as he can into his attack.
The blade couldn't cut it, so looks like it was time to ruin his outfit! Sheathing his blade and dropping his golem glove his form ripples, clothes tearing as scale over works fur, Angus turning into a dragon as he lunghes forward with both hands clenched together for a hammer blow.
They're not moving? Why aren't they moving?--oh, well, being bound might be a problem. Still, he nods in gratitude to Markus as the wounded Coyote takes on freeing them. Watching them advance, he drops his pilum and draws his sword, setting to hacking at the bonds on the captives, though with an eye on any of the smaller Craige should they come closer.
"Mmmph," Natska grunts. She turns and begins circling the pit, heading the opposite direction from Markus, slipping a dagger from her belt into her hand. She starts cutting bonds, hurridly, and giving the Beings nudges towards the door. "Go, go! The cold will only slow them down so much, get out and run!"
Serana meanwhile, continues firing with a bit more reckless abandon, she will make a bullet wall! At least, as much of a wall as she could make with her last couple pistols. This complete, she reholstered her weapons before pulling her cutlass' and charging!
Markus limps to the next villager, making to cut their bonds as well.
Cassidy's wind sends the beings tumbling away from the edge of the pit and seems to disorient the Craige approaching slowly from the outer walls, still hampered by Natska's magic. The groups efforts to save the villiagers seems to be working, and the offensive seems to be going well! Rev's massive strike hits directly on his previous attack, shattering a huge chunk of stony hide from the beast's tail and sending the monster spinning in rage! It spins itself about wildly, flailing with its tail that is bleeding thick, burning blood! Both the wolf and fox-turned dragon manage to dodge, but the sheer number of Craige here are not saying much for the odds of survival.
Suddenly, there is a strange POP sound and the monstrous Craige is wearing a strange, wide brimmed green hat. It looks confused for just a moment. Well, as confused as a monstrosity like that can look, then its eyes widen and it starts to shriek! All of the other Craige suddenly join in, panic on their faces as they clutch at their heads and scream. Now was the Freeswords' chance!
Once the survivors have gotten out of the way and the Craige are disoriented, Cassidy reverses the flow on her magic, trying to push some of the Craige into the pit. On a much smaller, more focused scaled, though, careful to not get her allies.
Llewellyn cringes as the shrieking begins...though in the confusion, it seems they're all defenseless! Handing his short, stoud Gladius to the most recently freed prisoner--"Keep at their bonds!"--he grabs for his pilum and advances on the nearest Craige at full-tilt. Well, full tilt for a three-quarters armored giraffe. Which can be surprisingly fast for short bursts. Reaching one, he gives a mighty thrust at its...chest?
Rokarion lets out a bored sigh once more, the plan being was either trying to act hard as if he was not affected by the current situation or he was in fact not that impressed. The sudden wails of the stone lizards however did manage to make him wince, if only slightly, as his leafy ears perked up at the sound. Deciding enough is enough, Rokarion raised a hand and gestured with it, muttering an equation as he attempted to use the force of the element to strike at the giant creature's core.
Rev dances out of the way of the blood. And while the Craige are for the momment disoriented. The Kirin charages forward to attack, and do as much damage to their massive foe. As he can before it, and the small fry can recover. whiike st the same time attempting to kanuever behind the big guy so he csn taje his tail.
Markus sits down against a wall, resting. Too much exertion on his injured body.
Natska lets herself grin at the intervention, using the distraction to continue scurrying along the edge of the pit, freeing captives. When she reaches the far side, she turns, and begins ushering the last few back towards the exit, using her winds and her bitter chill to keep the stumbling Craige away from herself.
Angus blinks a bit at the confusion, taking it as a lull as he turns. "Focus on the villagers, get them out then we can deal with the Craig!" Turning he scoops up nearest few by their collars to carry them out of harms way.
Rev having circled around the big beast begins to chop away at the injured section of his tail. The kirin apparebtly very eager to take that tail off. Before he considers moving on to attack the rest of the beast.
Serana takes advantage of the chaos the craig were in to become a flash of her dual Cutlass'. Slicing, slashing and chopping the shark was pretty reckless in the swathe of pain she was causing. So reckless, in fact, she comes near to harming one of the remaining villagers who didn't leave, and maybe even one or two of her allies. Focused more on just the act of swinging her blades she was lost to the lust, until she found herself hitting one of the far walls. That was certainly not a craig, so shrugging, she cut her way back towards the entrance with much more of a focused mind.
Markus eyes the engraved markings on the floor and makes his way over to them, using the spear head to scratch and otherwise try to damage the markings.
Rokarion lets out another bored sigh, the plant mathemagician moving closer towards the large lizard before taking another deeper, more purposeful sigh, clearing his mind before quickly scribbling things on his notebook, geometric shapes and equations quickly getting written and scratched in some arcane ritual before the plant raises his head and gestures with his pen towards the large Craige. With a split second, swirling colors and elements form and dance around the creature's torso and near his core, colorful flames and zephyrs before the combined elements grow volatile and explode with a felt force right in front of the creature's core.
Rev raises his claymore, and with a mighty roar. That may, or may not echo across the room. Brings his claymore down on the beastd tail. Finall sepersting the tail from the massive criage. Well most of it anyways. Then dances backwards to avoid the spray of blood. After which he sheaths his claymore. In exchange for drawing his spear. The large kirin spins, and fling hid spesr at the beasts throat.
Angus looks around at those that are left, shooing the few villagers he had picked up before turning around. He notices Rev attacking the Craige's tail, and presses the advantage. With a roar he presses forward, the dragon throwing a heavy left handed punch directly at the creatures face.
After hurling a few of the craige into the pit, Cassidy settles herself, tail flicking behind her as she collects herself for a moment, taking stock of the situation and seeing if further assault would be needed on her part. Or defense, for that matter.
The monstrous Craige staggers about, frothing and bleeding magma hot blood from many wounds, most especially its stump of a tail. The beast lumbers blindly about, still keening right up until the moment it takes a spear to the throat, an explosion at its middle and a skull crushing blow to the face! The wretched monster's wail turns to a gurgle as it slumps to the ground, obsidian teeth jutting from its ruined skull and one remaining eye rolling back as it breaths its last.
The other Craige are no match for the combined efforts of the others, dozens of the shrieking creatures falling before the onslaught of blade and magic.
Then Markus breaks one of the arcane lines on the floor. There is a rumbling, as if the cavern were in the midst of an earthquake! Then the walls start to move slowly inward, shoving craige corpses into heaps as it returns to its natural dimensions and the subterranean interior begins to match the ramshackle exterior. The Craige truly had some strange magic.
Serana chuckles a bit, returning her blades to their sheathes before making her way out with a happy hum. She rather did enjoy that little dervish of hers. She may have almost killed someone they were supposed to save, but they were alive, so she didn't care.
Markus hobbles out of the collapsing structure, spear point still in his hand as he exits the structure.
Angus starts to laugh as the Craige goes down. "Who's weak now you creator forsaken bitch!" He shouts, the adrenaline making him a little manic! As the walls start closing in he blinks, scooping up his gear as he realizes it's time to leave!
Cassidy backs up as the room starts to... Shrink? She shakes her head, ears flicking and turns to make for the exit. She survivors were out, and she didn't want to be in here if it fell apart. Pausing to make sure the others were alright getting out, she turns to move, herself.
Rokarion steps closer to the pit, peeking down into it, taking a long glance at the hole, pen in hand and drawing on paper as he did so, before quickly turning around and following the group as they got out, eyes shifting between his book and the his surroundings.
Outside the villagers are standing around in bewilderment. One can only imagine what that magical discharge must have looked like out here. Standing among them is that strange fox again. When he sees the group emerge from the now, crowded, crumbling dome he claps his hands and cheers! "Well done my friends! You made it out!" he calls, sauntering up in his green suit and floppy hat, "I must admit, that was a rout! We're better off with that one gone, I'm glad that I could cheer you on!"
Natska blinks as she spots Markus' work, then takes a moment to glance down at her own feet, looking for previously hidden symbols. The contracting building doesn't let her remain for long, however, and she scurries out after the others. "I hope you got all of that, Rokarion," she says, giving the plant being a smile.
Rev takes a momment to scake the beasts form to retrieve his spear. Having done so he takes a mommment to grab hold of the beadts tail, and drag it with him. But with the combination of the place closing in on it's self. And the massive weight of the tail. He instead grabs a much smaller chunk he broke off. Then hurries for the exit behind the other. Spear, and tail shard in hand. And upon making it outside, and spotting that same fox that warned them before. He raises a brow."I tske it that distraction that helped us obtain victory was your doing?" He says while setting down his spear, and digging out the feather from earlier.
Llewellyn blinks blearily as he pulls off a gauntlet to rub at his eyes--partly to get the dirt and dust out, and partly because he can't quite believe that strangely-dressed stranger is here again.
"You!" he calls out to the unreal Fox. "I'm glad you proved me right...and helped us where you could. But...what was that? And who are you?"
Markus is injured, battered, and tired. But he cracks a smile at the strange fox. "I'm glad we could help." He says, looking around for his heavy armor.
Rokarion steps closer to the pit, peeking down into it, taking a long glance at the hole, pen in hand and drawing on paper as he did so, before quickly turning around and following the group as they got out, eyes shifting between his book and the his surroundings. Not expecting the fox to answer either way.
Serana gives a soft shrug "Interesting method of cheering us on." the shark gives with a light flick of the tail. He was still rather adrenaline-high, and his hands clenching and unclenching as if longing to swing his swords with reckless abandon again. But he restrained himself, settling to grip the hilts of his weapons as if going to draw the cutlass in a reverse grip. One which would be completely impractical for him.
"That trick was mine, I must admit," says the fox, "It was a good one, wasn't it? For things like them, there's nothing worse! Like a hat of tin, but in reverse!" The fox looks quite pleased with himself, but seems to realize that his words did not mean anything to the gathered beings. "They all attach from mind to mind," he says, "I blocked their link and left them blind. It is too hard to explain, my dear. Suffice, it worked, so you're still here." He flashes a salesman's grin at Llewellyn. "My name, you ask, oh friend so tall? Why that is no request at all! The Puzzler, I'll be called by you. It's who I am and what I do!"
"You're Outside court," Cassidy says with a tilt of her head. "Aren't you outside the rules of the life and corrupt court? Never the less, thank you for the assistance. We got the people out, and that is what matters. Though we must find a new place for them to go, I think."
As much as Llewellyn enjoys flattery, it works better when it's from a pretty woman, and he pulls a sour moue at the Puzzler, almost certain this supernatural would-be poet is making fun of him.
Angus breaths a sigh of relief, the buzz of adrenaline starting to ease out of his system as he reaches down to pick Mister up in a hand. "Thank you for your help Great puzzler, we would not of been able to acomplish this without you." He states humbly, knowing how the spirits work somewhat through his tie to another.
Rokarion shifts his gaze momentarily towards Natska, "I got what I saw, no idea if I missed anything." He answered back before refocusing his gaze on committing everything he remembered to paper; good memories are not infallible after all. As the outlandish fox arrives again, Rokarion glances him again, shaking his head and going back to his scribbles, "I would be quite interested in knowing why your colleagues did not want to interfere in the first place, are the Craige related to your kind by any chance?" the plant asked , direct to the point as always.
Serana shrugs "Maybe we could have, maybe we couldn't have. Would have been interesting to find out." he smirks a bit "Regardless, the help is appreciated. Would have enjoyed a bit more then just cannon-fodder, waiting around to be slaughtered."
Natska steps up next to Cassidy, and bows her head to the Puzzler. "My thanks I give, for we all yet live. I still must ask before we part, if we could prevail upon your art - of these Craige we know but little, would you care to spin us a tale?"
The Puzzler shrugs at Cassidy. "Not my world and not my way," he says, "I have to follow what they say." He frowns at Rokarion. "Those awful things are none of mine," he says, "Nor do they come of Spirit line. My cousins are afraid to fight, there is a rift 'tween dark and light. They fought these horrors long ago, and trapped them well, if you must know. This was before their fight began and spirits yet worked hand in hand. That story is not mine to tell, but listen hard, remember well. Though quiet, these things do not sleep, in earth and fire they slowly creep. Should they call their Eldest here, that will be your end, I fear."
Rev grins, and nods. "Indeed it was a fantastic trick. And you have my thanks for your assitance." He says as he tucks the feather safely within hies armor once more. Listening to the puzzlers next rhyme. "Well thanks for the warning."
Markus listens. Or tries to, pot
"Mmmmph," Natska replies, frowning. "I... see.." The jaguar falls silent then, an arm moving so she can place her hand on Cass' arm, and then she looks around at the others.
Cassidy tilts her head to the side. "I see, I see... Well. Thank you for the help, again, all the same. I hope they won't bring their big one here, but if they do... We'll handle it. One way or not. I would prefer they didn't, though." She slips over next to Natska and gives a little yawn. "That took a lot out of me. All that magic."
Markus listens. Or tries to. But his shoulder was starting to throb so he just grabs his gear.
Rokarion nods and continues his way out, mulling over what the Puzzler said. Concentration all given towards his writing tasks.
Angus breaths silently as his form ripples once more, scales giving way to fur once more as his wings disapper and the fox stands there once more. "We will do what we must to defeat these foes." His ears flick back and forth as he conciously makes sure that he was still decent enough in his shredded attire.
Serana had completely missed the story, as uninterested in it as she was. She did, however, wander back towards the giant dome thing where she crossed her arms about her chest. She can't deny the fact she was curious about the whole pit thing. And she doubted the fact that if she dragged someone back in there and dropped them into the pit something might happen. For that matter, the pit might not even be there anymore. Shrugging she removed one her cutlass' and began twirling it with abandon, She wasn't close to people, but she was definatly careless in how she was swinging her weapon. At least, careless to those who would approach her. Frankly, she didn't care either. Making her way away from the group with the intent of fixing the adrenal high she still had.
There is a tearing sound, and the Puzzler is gone, leaving the group to make their way back to the military camp to report their findings. The Captain is duly impressed and rewards the intrepid heroes as promised.
