It was only recently did such news came to the public, there has been sightings of a Dullahan at night who wanders across the streets of Crocus, infinite in mystery shrouded and masked by a shadowy flame, a mist that create anonymity. Last month the first sighting was reported as the witnesses were the town guard, three civilians and a mage who seemed to have met with the Horseman. It's unknown why it comes here or what it has been looking for, it haunted the very streets of crocus to this very day.
Some say its an urban legend, others say its just a rumor to convince children to seclude in their homes during the night but witnesses who lived to tell the tale, feared the night more than any person would.
And now ladies and gentleman, at this night of nights he rides through the streets of crocus, searching for whatever it seeks. Those who approached him and asked, were answered with the taste of iron that came from the Netherlands.
JOB!
We are looking for a wizard who can apprehend this Phantom. Beat him and ask him what he was looking for! PLEASE!
~A scared town guard
Last edited by Dubhlainn on 5th April 2016, 8:03 pm; edited 2 times in total
While Nothel was particularly interested in listening to random guards at Crocus, this one had a quite peculiar story. A horseman of the apocalypse or something along those lines rode the streets of this city at night. This was intriguing enough for Nothel that, that night he donned his armor, sheathed his katana, and moved down the streets of Crocus in the dead of night, looking for said apparition.
He cloaked himself in the shadow of darkness, yet that won't help him against this...horseman. Shaking his head, he patrols Crocus, awaiting the challenge of the horseman.
The Inversion impulse crept over his mind, there was no stopping it and should he try to even contain the urges, it would prove to be self destructive but only on such nights the Inversion came when someone is about to reach the end of their age. The properties of the essence still linger strong to this day and continues to grow stronger the more he collects for Lady Death. As Dullahans were now a rare species of Fae, there's been a demand from her that all those who remain would double their efforts.
Hence he must find a suitable place... what else better than Crocus at night, where all of its citizens stayed indoors, now frightful of the wandering horseman that lurks in the night. A Black mist starts to envelop him, masking any kind of information about him and walks onward towards the plaza. He only took form of a figure of a man and because of the mist, it made him look like an illusion.
The Inversion Impulse will come at soon, there's no stopping it from happening and as luck would have it, the ability for him to cloak himself during inversion was available.
The hands of the clock was about to strike twelve... For whence the bell tolls.
Nothel stops, looking up at the clock tower as it strikes to strike.
Ding. Ding. Ding. Ding.
He smiles lightly, it was twelve then. A few more strikes to go until...what was that... Nothel sensed something was off, there was presence. He looks around the area, trying to find the source of the...disturbance.
Ding. Ding. Ding. Ding.
Something was definitely wrong. It had gotten too quiet. There was no wind, no anything. There was only the chiming of the giant bell. Quickly ducking into a shadowy spot, Nothel peers around the plaza, looking, waiting.
Ding. Ding. Ding. Ding.
The moon would come out from behind clouds, illuminating the plaza in grey light, revealing all who are there. Nothel glances around, looking again for some assailant. He steps out of his spot, it useless now in the light. He keeps a hand on his sword sheath, ready to fight if something comes for him.
On a night just like this, there was a legendary Dullahan that resided in a mountain pass that divides the two rival kingdoms, in that pass many were slaughter, many were killed and many did not survive for no matter who's side wins, whatever is left is swiped clean by the messenger himself. An entity who grown immensely powerful as it harvested over a hundred souls, hence CRUACH was sealed off by the aoi si, who feared his power and immense strength.
There is no descendant of death here, neither but there is only one who's fate has been written to carry that role and he was just across the plaza, inverting.... to what seemed to be the reanimation of the dreaded Dullahan, the exile from the Ao si... Cruach.
The Black Figure was enveloped in smoke and haze, the presence of a phantom, the appearance of what seemed to be a Dullahan, the aura of bloodlust grips the air and the most disturbing silences looms over the Black Rose mage. Nothel's vision starts to blur, he starts to see static, words in red were clear in his head, screaming to get away.
Run.... run away... Run.... run away or you'll die Run.. run..... Should he fight, there's no guarantee he'd come out of this unscathed, whether he may succeed or not.
"....!!!......" It mumbles... trying to make sense of its own environment, there seems to be someone here, how unfortunate they must come at this time of night when inversion is supposed to happen. Its unarmed and it has no weapons in particular, however the figure stared right through his soul, it placed its hand on the central post and with no effort it starts to bend.
CREAAAAAAAKKKK!!!!! The twist and bending of metal, how such fine foundation was easily torn by this phantom. The pole was torn of from its foundation and it was tainted black as red veins start to infest it.
There was no doubt about it. Nothel felt fear. A true fear for the first time in his life. He hadn't expected such a frightening and imposing figure to be his opponent...
The static in his eyes annoyed him, and he violently shook his head, trying to clear the sensation away. Thankfully, it would work and he would inspect his opponent. A specter. The wasn't the best enemy for Nothel to fight. His blood magic would be useless. He wanted to run. He needed to run. But he couldn't, he must fight this beast, this dark, unholy creation.
Steeling himself, he draws his sword as the specter takes on a palpable and real form. It seemed to be incredibly strong, destroying the post in seconds. He knows he will have a hard time defeating this beast. Spotting the red veins, he checks with his magic to see if the beast has blood flowing in its armor.
The footsteps of the phantom can be heard; it crept a few meters closer and closer… UNTIL!!!! It swung the pole from up high, smashing to down on Mossino. “!!!!!!!!!!” It was a heavy strike that could even fell a Rune Knight Commander, should they not be on their guard. IN any case this would have been no problem for Mossino, however the intention wasn’t just to smash him with this small pole, rather an excuse to bend the long pole itself by doing so.
There can be no good trying to balance it so he had to fix this problem in a form of attack. As he would have noticed, only half of the long pole was covered in black and red, making it look like that it was infected by a symbiote while the other half retained its actual appearance.
Nothel jumps and rolls out of the way as the beast slams the large metal pole down on him. Such speed and strength it had. He stares in slight awe at the beast, quite impressed. He wonders what magic it uses with it infected that...pole with something.
Grinning, now this is the fight he wanted. Both sides fighting for their lives. "Beast! What business do you have here!" he calls out, drawing his katana for the fight. He doesn't even wait for a response as he dashes towards the beast, attempting to cut one of its veins with a simple slash.
It dropped the pole down in order to react to his attack, there was no time to move. As soon as the phantom let go of the pole, the black symbiote flickered as its appearance gradually return to the way it was before the pole came into the hand of this "beast" Nothel considers. There was no need to dodge his strike.....
Nothel stopped moving the moment he swung his katana. What Nothel saw upon the blink of an eye was something he cannot believe...
This phantom caught his blade with his one hand. Only those who show a extremely high level of dexterity can stop a weapon attack like that. "......" It fell silent, realizing that Nothel isn't going to allow him to arm itself properly. It was a relief he knew how to fight but minutes are about to pass, his inversion might come up any minute now. As the Phantom held the blade tightly, he bumped his head into his hard and started to throw Nothel's arm, the arm that held his weapon, forcing him a few steps back.
"....." He took this opportunity to pick up the pole, as the pole itself became infected again with the black and red symbiote.
So overall he only wanted to pick up his weapon of choice but Nothel didn't allow that, it was a smart move on his part but he did not expect that his opponent has such an incredible high level of dexterity. There was a small wound he suffered using the hand he used to block the katana with, it was nothing serious.
The Inversion is starting up... it won't be long... The Phantom Figure finally materialized its set of armor, still hiding itself in black mist as it held the infected pole tightly. Nothel would notice that the tip of his katana would have a faint black symbiote on the tip of its blade and shortly afterwards it disappeared.
So...that is how it is going to be. Black armor protecting the monsters core. This wasn't good, Nothel didn't have any source of blood....well he did...Heh... Grinning Nothel brings his blade up to his wrist, splaying it, ignoring the pain. He cuts himself in a way that a lot of blood is released, spewing onto the ground. His natural regeneration would quickly repair the wound. An area around Nothel now has blood around it, allowing him to work with magic.
Before the beast can charge him again, he readies an explosive attack, gathering some of the blood into a ball, filling it with magical power. Lobbing this at an enemy would cause it to explode. Quite effective against his metal armor..probably.
He stands back, watching the beast, circling it slowly. If the beast charges him, he will throw the ball right in its face with magic. If the beast doesn't charge, he will try and explode it anyway.
HP: 200/100% (-10% for cutting self, +10% for natural regen) MP: 85% Wounds: N/A
A Magus who insert magical energy into blood and manipulate it accordingly till it runs out...
A Hermomancer.....
Hermomancers are quick to regenerate but there must always be a limit to how much blood they can shed and the limitations of how much magical energy they have to put into it. What better way to go at is....
Aim for the heart, the only source of life, the factory that produces more blood. The Hermomancer drew a blood ball from the blood he spilled on the ground. Hermomancer abilities may extend to various scenarios, they could thicken blood into a solid object, it can also infect a target and manipulate the body accordingly or create a blood clot that stops the circulatory system from functioning, its not something to be taken lightly, he had his fair share of hermomancers in the past, some which almost cost the life of his comrades back in the day.
Just who is this man who stood up to the Phantom Figure? Acknowledging his ability the phantom proceeds to come close, having bent the pole into two, holding the wider portion of it on one hand and the longer one on the other. The pole is still long but that was the idea, even the Phantom doesn't know much about his opponent's abilities and speculation didn't seem to be enough for it.
Only a few seconds, he raised the shorter pole like it was some shield as a precautionary in case this hermomancer has something else up his sleeve, other than manipulating blood and quickly....
..just quickly he thrust the longer pole right at the blood ball in order to test how it reacts. Regardless the next step would be after the thrust, he'd swing the long pole over to his head. (15D) If the ball were to explode violently he would have ignored whatever damage he's going to suffer and continue his attack regardless. Absorbing damage and dishing out whatever damage he can return is one of his capabilities but that's what makes him a complete monster infront of his opponents.
Someone who accepts and abnormally takes punishment, while dishing out and returning the same.
HP: 195/97% MP: 95%
Passives Glorious Monochrome ?????????????? - Passive enforced (total physical damage with a weapon - 15 - no weapon 12) (Damage reduction 20% from all sources) ??????????????
As the ball is hit with the pole, it would explode from the condensed magic in it, most likely damaging his armor and him. Though wouldn't have time to react to the pole going straight towards his head and would take full force of it, getting hit for 15 HP. Nothel is hit back from the blast, trying to gain some ground.
Nothel grunts as he stretches his neck slightly, "That hurt, asshole.." Forming some more blood up, he wonders, sending out a spear that can pierce armor would probably work wonders here.
Keeping his sword in his hand he inspects the beast again. So it ignores pain and damage to hurt its enemies. That....that is a lot like Nothel's berserker style. Nothel forms a spear, one with an incredibly hardened tip for piercing arm. He sends it at the beast, hoping that if it blocks it shall destroy his weapon.
The bruise that would form on Nothel doesn't come...his regeneration.
The visor flashed red as the phantom figure emerged from the smoke of the explosion. The long pole was destroyed and only the shorter one remained. Nothel was forced back, it seems he is still bleeding and parts of the battlefield were stained in his blood. Now this is the problem here, he has too many defenses and the more Nothel keeps his distance, the greater his advantage but perhaps that was the thing he was relying on.
And with that he immediately understood what must be done, this is going to cost him a bit, his armor was grazed but not heavily damaged, his long pole is no longer usable as he cannot safely poke his enemy, the shorter one would still be of use, however it was a mistake to even knock him a distance away and therefore it was imperative he must not meet the same result. He already knew how strong he is when he bend down the pole but it seems he is not ready to fear yet and is gradually gaining confidence with every minute. Hesitation is no longer acceptable.
He started to launch a spear made of his own blood right at him, it was launched as such distance he cannot hope to dodge in time and that forced him to use the shorter pole, there was no point in blocking it either as it was heavily tipped so the best thing to do was to block it in such a way that the trajectory of the spear would be off and inclined the shorter pole about 45 degrees and as it would come in contact the spear would have missed the phantom by a hair's length, it was a stupid move but a lucky one. His visor glows again and it seemed that he was successful in completely disarming the phantom. He was weaponless and that's probably a momentary advantage that Nothel have.
He won't be able to maintain it.
The Phantom smashed his foot on the ground as a tile was sent high up in the air, with such timing and accuracy he kicked the tile over to Nothel (8D) He stomped his foot again and did the same process, firing three ground projectiles at the same time and while Nothel would work to either dodge them or destroy them in midflight, the Phantom would already be making his move by moving to the same positions the blood stained tiles were, kicking them up high and kicking them as a projectile right at Nothel repeatedly, a total of 7 tiles were fired at Nothel and all of them were stained with his blood the moment he cut himself with the katana.
This way he was able to get close enough to which he'll attempt to deliver a blow to his abdomen using his bare fist. This was not an easy thing to do nor it is the best tactic and its purpose was to attack an enemy and hiding himself from sight as the huge tiles head close. If he gets close enough then Nothel would suffer more physical damage than he would. (16D with this strike)
The cut from Nothel's katana still bothers him when he caught it. The reason why he used his legs is to avoid any pressure on his hand and despite being on the verge of inversion, his mind was clear and his instincts were more than enough to become and adversary.
But this time he was getting a bit serious and started to use the environment as a weapon. Kicking up heavy floor tiles and kicking them right at Nothel was one of them, grabbing the pole at the center of the plaza was another. He did suffer some damage from the blood ball but not fully as the infected long pole destroyed it.
HP: 180/90% (Suffered -10D due to the pole impaling the ball) MP: 95% Armor HP: 98/120 (Suffered -10D due to the pole impaling the ball)
Passives Glorious Monochrome ???????????? - (15D armed, 12D unarmed, - 20% damage from all sources, 10% agility allowing him to hide behind projectiles and repeat the process of his attacks at a fast rate) ???????????? - (Passive activated upon being hit by the blood ball "Visor flashing" - effects incoming) ???????????? Armor Passive ( 6hp + 12% damage reduction from all sources )
Nothel grins as the beast takes damage, leaving him wide open to the next attack. The bloodied tile strikes him right in the chest, knocking the wind out of him. Groaning, he drops to his knees, as two more fly past him, one striking his shoulder. "Enough!" He yells, raising his hand and using 5% of his mana to break the rest of the tiles that have blood on them. Standing, he wouldn't have time to prepare for the punch in the gut.
But...this is exactly what Nothel needed. As he got struck with the blow, he grabs the hand, and using his agility jumps from the fist onto the armored beast on its back. As he jumped, he collected blood from the surrounding area and tiles, forming another explosive ball. If the armor had a weakness, like a hole at the neck, Nothel would shove the explosive ball in there and jump back. If there was none, Nothel would place the ball on the beasts direct back and jump away.
Landing, he rubs his stomach, it quite sore.
HP: 188/94% (-32HP from hits, + 20HP from regen) MP: 65% Wounds: Sore and most likely hurt bones at stomach.
The Phantom was shocked as his agility, as expected that he never knew much about his opponent either and he easily fell into his trick as a ball exploded on his back grazing his armor completely. The Phantom was sent back, rolling on the ground and when it tried to stand up, the red flash on the visor fades… he is motionless on his knees while it faces up the sky. Dubhlainn was completely knocked unconscious, though results did not meet Nothel’s expectations.
For a few seconds it may have seem that Nothel would have won given that the phantom was already motionless but somehow a chill ran down his spine.
It is time…
It is time….
No it is time…
Its here… Its here…
Run… Run..
Run… Run…
You should not be here…
Die… Run and Run…
These were mental images of madness striking at Nothel’s head for a moment and when Nothel came to, the visor finally lit up again and the phantom was standing back on his two feet. The area started to fill up with mana to the point that the mana itself became somewhat visible to Nothel, it was like a mist like illusion, much like the aurora lights of the north and South Pole.
His inversion is complete….
“…..!!!!!....!.....” He can hear groaning bloodlust from here, it appears that it was different from before. Dubhlainn was knocked unconscious, that’s a fact but that was what he wanted to prevent and as he remained conscious of what was going on before, the inversion was delayed but when that blow to the head was delivered, Dubhlainn’s limiters were unlocked.
A power he dare not use in the sight of others, a power he dare not even use at his opponents, he cursed and lament, a promise to defeat a magus without the use of magic, such as his failure he is still…
…. Filled with mediocrity.
Impossible... before his eyes the presence of an espers began to fill the air. The Phantom's height increases to 7ft, the armor appearance changes and the phantom... now headless. The neigh of the mount can be heard throughout the distance, a horse possessed by magic gallops through the roads and if Nothel doesn't get out of the way, it will deal D spell damage (+15D). The horse reunites with its rider as the Esper mounts it at last, on his hand, he was carrying Nothel's katana.
But when did he managed to swipe the Katana of Nothel?
That was when Nothel suffered a blow to the abdomen, dulling the sense of having his katana being swiped from him. To Nothel's understanding his opponent preferred to be armed and now Nothel had to face a huge threat, facing off against a powerful Esper and with no sword in hand, he'll have to rely on his magic. Disarming him will be one of his priorities.
Crom Cruach: The Messenger
Objective: Defeat Cruach by reducing his HP to 130hps (He will be forced to flee after spending too much time with you) Reduce his Hitpoints to 140hp (he will be forced off his mount) Defeat: Do not allow Cruach to reduce you by 100hp
The Horseman began his pursuit, his horse neighed and stood up in superiority and started to charge at Nothel, should Nothel dodge, the horse would jump up and Cruach will try to grab Nothel with his hand. (The Hand that Nothel wounded earlier with his katana).
In any event, the Katana turned Black and as of now it is under Cruach's control.
HP: 162HP/76% MP: 85% Armor: 58hp ( Supposedly damage reduced on armor because of a passive, Nothel made a direct hit)
Passives:
Glorious Monochrome ???????????? - (15D armed, 12D unarmed, -20% damage from all sources, 10% agility) ??????????? - (20% reduced magic damage to an opponent's magic only) ?????????? Armor Passive: (6hp + 12% reduced Damage)
Spells Activated: Crom Cruach: The Messenger (Activated on Impulse)
Esper Passive: Inactive
Last edited by Dubhlainn on 2nd April 2016, 3:08 am; edited 1 time in total
Nothel jumps back as he is hit in the gut again, groaning. "Gettin' real sick of that buddy." The beast had transformed into something...honestly terrifying. Nothel had no weapon now, only his magic...What shall he do...Looking at his options he grins, gaining an idea. Taking the blood that is on the ground he runs into an alleyway between two buildings, trying to taunt the horseman into following. When Nothel get inside the alley, he planted two explosive magical blood balls on the walls in the dark...
He waits for the horseman to follow him, and would detonate it around the horseman if he came into the alleyway after him.
His plan? Collapse the two buildings on top of the horseman. Even if he dodged the explosions would dent his armor and hurt the horse. Best case scenario? Crush the entire beast under two monsters and kill it..
HP 193/96.5% (-15 from attacks, +20 from regen) MP: (Getting low..) 35%
It was as Nothel predicted, the Horseman followed him in through the alley, and he was a bit faster than he anticipated when Nothel detonated two of his Blood balls it would have grazed the Horseman’s back and the walls they were on eventually collapsed but not the building itself but again there was this kind of attribute this phantom has, to ignore that pain and continue on to go out and dish out the same kind of damage.
There was one rule everyone should know about Dullahans, whether there are gates closed, doors shut and vaults and cases sealed off… nothing barrs a Dullahan’s path as all were forced open before it. The Debri did managed to hurt the esper but it did not stop it from approaching Nothel and further. The katana was stained with the Esper’s blood as it get close it swung at Nothel (Attempted) and should it miss, it mattered little as now… Nothel would have been marked by its own blood.
But instead of chasing Nothel any further after marking him… The Dullahan stopped….
Why did it stopped?
Why did it stopped?
What can truly stop this Dark Horseman on its path is when somebody in Crocus is about to die or has already died.
Who died? Who could have died?
Apparently the walls Nothel planted had innocents on the otherside of the wall, wondering about the noise produced by their battle. As the balls would have explode, it impaled the residents and slowly but surely they had already long and bled to death.
Cruach drew a sword that glowed green, the stench of spiritual essence gripped around it…. Cruach spoke in a language that Nothel did not know, even the author wouldn’t know of such ancient language but now it is translated for convenience.
“This night… the bell tolls and it tolls for thee.”
“A lost of two souls destined on this night and thus a destiny fulfilled and complete”
“Come under my name, come to death’s cradle, Lapis Dorm and Maria Dorm… “
“Cruach commands your souls to his bidding…”
The souls of two people were drawn out of the building where the explosion occurred. Their souls were sucked and absorbed into the blade and once again Cruach put his away. The Blood the phantom shed while in the form of Cruach, started to evaporate as he threw the Katana to the ground just in front of Nothel himself. The Dullahan’s task was done, the real reason Dubhlainn was lead to crocus was because two souls were bound to die tonight and when that condition was filled, there was no longer any reason for Cruach to stay any longer.
Nothel then realized what he just did… he may have won the battle but he committed unintentional murder…
Cruach pointed his finger right at Nothel.
“Murderer… Death has yet to claim yours for your crimes…” The Horse stood up and neighed for all Crocus to hear as it galloped away with its rider, disappearing into the night and cold hollowed streets of crocus. It was over but now there’s call for regret that Nothel committed murder tonight. The mark on Nothel disappeared, should the battle continued from that point, the odds will be against Nothel.
Cruach’s armor was torn, although wounded and is recovering; he was able to get what he came here for..... and now this duel draws to its conclusion.
HP: 130/65%HP (Exactly... who would have thought? LOL, Debris played a role in damaging Cruach, your damage was supposed to deal 80hp damage but reduced by 50 due to his defenses) MP: 85% Armor HP: Torn
The Hour's March: Active but Duel ended at that point.
YOU HAVE DEFEATED CRUACH!!!
Now proceed to this thread and post a link of your duel with you as the victor. Do not forget to credit Dubhlainn as he would earn 25xp only for his defeat.
Comments: I like the fact that you used Dubhlainn's tactic against Cruach, well played, this is a square duel and I have admitted defeat. If you like, you can challenge me again, PM me if you want to.
The attack was....far more effective than Nothel could have thought. He could feel the blood inside the walls. He killed two people. But that was nothing to him, just two more to the list, making sixteen kills in total. He watches the beast retreat and leave the battlefield, leaving Nothel standing there between two sins he just committed. Grinning he leans down and grabs his sword, sheathing it, calling a challenge out. "We shall meet again beast, and we shall fight again."
He disappears into the night, victorious.
(Fun match, gotta admit. I have plans on Nothel leaving this guild and possibly joining Savage Skull...perhaps we could fight there. I shall post and get the 50 EXP and your 25 EXP. Have a good day.)
by ![Flicker [Duel] GsoFitg](https://i.imgur.com/GsoFitg.jpg)
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