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    Zachariah & Beira: Into the Shadow

    Lemony.Boy
    Lemony.Boy

    Player 
    Lineage : Brute of Fiore
    Position : None
    Posts : 189
    Guild : Errings Rising
    Cosmic Coins : 0
    Dungeon Tokens : 0
    Experience : 10,343

    Character Sheet
    First Skill:
    Second Skill:
    Third Skill:

    Zachariah & Beira: Into the Shadow Empty Zachariah & Beira: Into the Shadow

    Post by Lemony.Boy 12th August 2019, 10:10 pm

    Songs Collide: Shadow:






    For all the travels Zachariah has been on, interplanetary ventures felt way above his paygrade.  Shinku was not an easy trip; traveling through the Wakusei Portals was rough and somewhat sickening.  Though, most unsettling was the shadowy planet itself.  Zachariah wore a grey hood and cape to mask his identity, as there were many dark mages scouring about.  Rather than his typical white getup, he swapped out his tall-collared white pea coat for a black one.  A few familiar faces scoured at him, though Zachariahw as not here to pick up a fight..  As he hailed from the legal guild Sabertooth, he couldn’t risk anyone recognizing his status.  Had he any backup, perhaps he could reel them back in to the law, but something inside told him it was not his place.  Despite their being on the dark side of the law, dark mages sought refuge like any other human would.

    Though, ogling at the alarming number of dark mages was not his mission as of right now.  No, he wouldn’t travel through the Wakusei Portals for something so trivial.  Rather, he was here to slay the “great bird of fire with a song that could tame dragons,” the Phoenix.  Like anyone else, he had only ever heard tales of the beast from local myths and ancient texts.  He assumed, like many other creatures, was either long extinct, or, well, non-existent.  Another mage happened to take the mission on with him; a fierce woman named Beira III of Utgardr.  Zachariah wasn’t sure if ‘Goddess Of Winter’ was simply a title, or something more.  Up until recently, he’d been skeptical in any kind of spirituality or the existence of deities.  But ever since he learned a new magic, Wrath of the Nine Realms, those things became more of a reality for him.

    Zachariah waited in a quiet corner of Shinku for his partner, cautiously and constantly eyeing his surroundings.  From what he’d seen in depictions, the Phoenix was an enormous creature.  The quest description did not assuage his concerns either, describing the beast as more than ten yards from head to tail, with an even larger wingspan to match.  Though he’d fought beasts just as large in the past, none of them ever used magic.  Despite faring well and succeeding against the manticores of Sakuramori and its many other beasts, they were narrow victories.

    Shinku was an eerie place, very much a phantom zone.  Very little light penetrated the sky.  Needless to say, Zachariah felt slightly out of his element.  However, there was a strange curiosity to this place that made him want to explore more.  He’d been stepping increasingly farther out of his comfort zone lately, venturing nearly into the dark on occasions.  Figuring he should try to get as comfortable as possible, Zachariah ordered a drink at the nearest pub while he waited for Beira.  They served him inky black, sickly-sweet scented drinks that relaxed his nerves, and he could only imagine who the “Goddess of Winter” might be.

    WC: 500/7500
    Fraag
    Fraag

    Player 
    Lineage : Progeny of Arcanos
    Position : None
    Faction : The Luminous Covenant
    Posts : 1038
    Guild : Luminous Rose
    Cosmic Coins : 60
    Dungeon Tokens : 0
    Experience : 3,401,904

    Character Sheet
    First Skill: Arcane Fate Magic
    Second Skill: Night God Slayer
    Third Skill: Relativity God Slayer

    Zachariah & Beira: Into the Shadow Empty Re: Zachariah & Beira: Into the Shadow

    Post by Fraag 14th August 2019, 7:48 am

    Beira walked through the gateway of the Wakusei portal leading into Shinku, noting with mild interest that the sensation of passing through an interdimensional portal and into another planet alien to Earthland, which to her, felt very tingly as far as her skin was concerned, was quite unlike her own interdimensional means of travel. They shared one thing in common though: neither was what could be termed as the best of sensations, although the sensations of passing through the Wakusei portals or the Travectio Infinium were both very much bearable.

    As the Utgardian stepped out of the portal, her eyes were immediately served with the vista of a dark, bleak world, with a surprisingly large number of people there. Of course, not army-sized populations, but still, for a planet like Shinku, Beira expected that there would be little to no one about. Of course, she had heard the rumors that this planet was a haven for dark mages running from the law. She shook her head slowly. Humans seemed to be so desirous to destroy themselves, and that in the face of a hostile universe. Beira was sure that there were a good number of dark mages on Shinku who had never dreamed that they would end up "bad". Of course, good and bad seemed to be relative terms, as far as most humans were concerned. The same government which outlawed dark mages had many corrupt and underhanded officials, a number of which used the same dark mages whose crucifixion they called for. Humans would never change.

    As Beira's form was shrouded in her thick grey cloak, she did not draw too many stares owing to her foreign style of dress. Of course, some people looked askance at her, most likely wondering what rough cards life had dealt to someone such as herself that would warrant her being here. But they all ultimately minded their businesses. Beira, for her part, was looking for someone: Zachariah D, or so the mission debriefing said. Earthland, with its interesting writing forms, never ceased to intrigue Beira. Of course, she had quickly learned to write, much faster than a normal person would have taken, and Beira took a bit of vain pride in the knowledge that as far as writing went, hers was quite pleasant to look at. She took out the paper in which she had written the name and looked at it again, hoping she would not pronounce it wrong when she had to.

    The rendezvous point looked like an interesting place, a little quiet pub. It seemed that not every "bad" fellow like noise and carnage ever so often. Walking into the establishment, the young woman scanned the people within the building, before her eyes came to rest on a fellow enjoying some drinks. Tall, slim, glowing eyes, white hair that curiously threw various colors at its edges... it was most likely him. After all, he fit the description Beira had of him, and he was the only person here who did. Walking up to the table, the Winter God Slayer said in her characteristic soft, yet strong tone of voice, "You are Zachariah D, I believe. Well met. I am Beira the Third of Utgardr." That being said, she shrugged her cloak backwards, so that it hung behind her, ignoring the stares her not-so-well-clad body elicited as she took a seat so that she was facing her mission partner, with the table between them. Almost everyone, if not everyone, was staring at their table now. If Beira took notice, she didn't show it.

    "I believe we have a giant fowl to pluck, once you have concluded your beverage, yes?"


    WC: 609 words
    Total: 1109/7500


    _____________________________________________________________________________________

    Lemony.Boy
    Lemony.Boy

    Player 
    Lineage : Brute of Fiore
    Position : None
    Posts : 189
    Guild : Errings Rising
    Cosmic Coins : 0
    Dungeon Tokens : 0
    Experience : 10,343

    Character Sheet
    First Skill:
    Second Skill:
    Third Skill:

    Zachariah & Beira: Into the Shadow Empty Re: Zachariah & Beira: Into the Shadow

    Post by Lemony.Boy 17th August 2019, 2:48 pm

    When heads in the bar all turned, Zachariah thought it was best to see why.  A blonde, almost familiar looking woman entered the pub’s doors.  Amidst the darkness of Shinku, the stranger brought a new, oddly refreshing energy.  Now, Zachariah didn’t know much about the partner he was supposed to have for this mission, but he had high hopes that this was the woman accompanying him.  He couldn’t peel his eyes off her despite feeling rude, but she had an aura about her that felt almost kin to his own.  She wore grey as well, most likely to camouflage with the dark mage territory.  The two met eyes, and she casually approached.  Had she been any taller, Zachariah would have been intimidated, but he straightened up in his seat and steadied himself.

    She introduced herself as Beira the Third of Utgardr, and Zachariah’s curiosity only soared.  There was only the slightest hint of an accent to her words, but not like anything Zachariah had ever heard in any of his travels.  Luckily, she didn’t butcher his name, but referred to him by his last initial as well, an unfamiliar formality.  On top of that, he couldn’t recognize the origin of her somewhat foreign looking wear.  He greeted back in a playfully welcoming voice, known to most people as his ‘legal mage’ voice.  “Well met indeed,” he said.  “You can just stick to calling me Zach.  Many people find it easier and faster that way.”

    Beira took a seat across from him and lowered her coat slightly, attracting the intrigued gazes of every bar-goer in the room, but Zachariah paid no mind to it.  By now Zachariah was accustomed to being stared at.  Between his one dull eye and the bright scars on his neck, he was a sight to behold.  He almost wished she had shown up a bit later, or under different circumstances; he was just beginning to enjoy the bar here.  She jested in a friendly manner, referencing to the Phoenix they would have to slaughter later that day.  “Massive,” he joked, spreading his arms to try to express how big the bird actually was.  “Feisty too, I’ve heard.  It can use magic, so it won’t go down easily.”  Returning his train of thought to the mission, he downed the rest of his drink and rose from his seat.  “We should get a move on if we want to kill it soon,” he explained, making for the door.

    Outside was even darker than the dim interior of the pub.  What little light there was assaulted his eyes in shrill white and grey.  Though, despite the shadiness and debauchery going on around him, there was something lurking about that enticed him.  Something within him wanted to indulge in the dark side as well, but he knew that those around him might not approve of him dabbling in the simple pleasures.  It felt out of character, too, to even give thought to his temptations, but Zach had grown quite a bit in recent months and wondered more about what this side of paradise had to offer.  On the topic of curiosities, Zachariah pondered about Beira.  In the time he spent researching his Wrath of the Nine Realms magic, he learned plenty about the Aesir pantheons and such.  He couldn’t figure out how to appropriately ask, but Zach had a hunch that Beira had some connection to it, and in turn, to him.

    Staring out into the horizon, Zachariah lost enthusiasm in ‘scouring the dark land.’  Searching for the shrine wouldn’t be easy, but with the combined force of his light magic and Beira’s assistance, this mission shouldn’t be too difficult.

    WC: 610
    Total: 1719/7500
    Fraag
    Fraag

    Player 
    Lineage : Progeny of Arcanos
    Position : None
    Faction : The Luminous Covenant
    Posts : 1038
    Guild : Luminous Rose
    Cosmic Coins : 60
    Dungeon Tokens : 0
    Experience : 3,401,904

    Character Sheet
    First Skill: Arcane Fate Magic
    Second Skill: Night God Slayer
    Third Skill: Relativity God Slayer

    Zachariah & Beira: Into the Shadow Empty Re: Zachariah & Beira: Into the Shadow

    Post by Fraag 19th August 2019, 8:32 am

    "Zach..." Beira repeated, in response to his offer to be called by a diminutive of his name. She nodded slowly. The fellow seemed easygoing and not likely to cause problems, at least as far as his behavior was concerned. Which was good. While Beira wasn't feeling particularly edgy at the moment, she was sure she didn't have much space for uptight people. The Utgardian youth allowed herself a smile at Zach's dramatics, when he emphasized on the size of the bird. While Beira was aware that the creature used magic, she reminded herself not to take it lightly in the least, despite the offhand way she had talked about it. If there was anything she had learned, it was that it was often to one's advantage to be taken lightly. Likewise, those who took others, or things, lightly were prone to suffer for it.

    Zach was quick to finish his drink, and as he rose and headed for the door, Beira followed immediately, though she made no appearance of being in a hurry. With most of her form concealed again in her grey cloak, she stood behind Zach and observed the bleak landscape before her. Looking at her partner, the Winter God Slayer mentally assumed what he was thinking of. Where the phoenix shrine was located. She didn't crack her brain too long to get a workable solution. Someone who had been around in Shinku for a while would have seen, or at least heard about the shrine. Of anyone she could consider, the pub owner probably had been here a while, so he, or anyone who hung ahbitually around the bar might be able to help. "Excuse me for a moment, Zach," she said, before turning on her heel and reentering the pub. Once inside, she walked straight to the bar and said to the man behind it, "I would like to ask for directions." He studied her for a moment, trying to evaluate her as best he could, but before he could answer, a rough came out from an inner room behind the bar, and edged the bartender aside as he said, "it'll cost you." The bartender gave him an irritated look, but let him be.

    There was a pause, before Beira nodded. "I thought it would. How much?"

    "Fifty thousand jewels."

    Beira glared at him. "Let's be civil, human," she said as threateningly as she could. Which wasn't terribly threatening, unless one was a good judge of voice tones, and the ruffian was not in the least. "You can't intimidate me," he laughed. "I know your types. Soft, rich, spoiled, thinking you can do what pleases you because you come from a rich family. But this is Shinku, where the strongest survive, not the richest. So, fifty thousand jewels, or you'll have to give me something else." He had a vulgar expression on his face, and Beira could sense the patrons behind her stirring in curiosity. One or two, most likely acquaintances of the ruffian had risen silently to their feet, thinking the young woman was unaware of their positions. She smiled, genuinely amused.

    "This is your last chance," Beira said, placing both elbows on the bar and leaning forward. "Let's talk like civilized beings, or I'll take what I want and leave." The man looked Beira over, and decided she wasn't anything near a threat. So he leaned forward as well and said, "Take what you want? Would you be a darling and show me just how you intend to do that?"

    "Gladly."

    Reaching out, Beira placed a hand on the man's cheek. Before he could react, the interior of the pub was suddenly illuminated with a ghostly pale green light, as the man's head burst into spectral flames. The bartender, idly watching the proceedings, stepped back in shock, as the rough screamed and tried to pull away, but Beira's second hand shot out and secured his head, preventing him from moving back. After a bit of time, with him still screaming and struggling, Beira let the man go, as he staggered and fell backwards to the ground, shivering and mumbling incoherently. The Utgardian maiden smiled innocently at the worried bartender, then turned to see everyone in the bar staring at her again. Some of them held weapons in their hands. "Ladies and gentlemen," she said gently, looking pointedly at the nearest person with a weapon, "none of us wants to do that." Slowly, they put their weapons away and gave her room to pass.

    Whether Zach had chosen to follow Beira back into the pub or not, she approached him and said with a happy smile, "I think our destination's that way."


    WC: 777 words
    Total: 2496/7500


    _____________________________________________________________________________________

    Lemony.Boy
    Lemony.Boy

    Player 
    Lineage : Brute of Fiore
    Position : None
    Posts : 189
    Guild : Errings Rising
    Cosmic Coins : 0
    Dungeon Tokens : 0
    Experience : 10,343

    Character Sheet
    First Skill:
    Second Skill:
    Third Skill:

    Zachariah & Beira: Into the Shadow Empty Re: Zachariah & Beira: Into the Shadow

    Post by Lemony.Boy 24th August 2019, 10:09 pm

    With all the calamity from inside the bar, Zachariah suddenly regret leaving Beira by herself.  Surely the God slayer was more than capable of taking care of herself, but the poor bartenders and attendants would more than suffer from her wrath.  Zachariah could only imagine what might be going on inside.  From what he could hear, Beira must have been bargaining for information.  Of course, given their current location, no one was going to be civil, despite her multiple warnings.  There was a cock of a gun and ear-piercing shink of a sword and commotion of others arming themselves, but no tumult to follow.  Afraid of the worst, Zachariah peeked inside to make sure no one had been the unfortunate victim of an intense bar fight.  The young Saber sighed in relief to see Beira leave the establishment unscathed, though the now uneasy bargoers shook in their boots.  She approached him with an accomplished pep in her step and smile Zach could only describe as mischievous.  “Starting bar fights without me?” Zachariah remarked.

    At least now their journey would be less wandering in the Shinku wilderness and more poultry-slaughtering, but Zach had a recurring trepidation nonetheless.  Whilst Beira had her back turned towards the pub, an angry, possibly drunk bargoer charged towards the both of them with a shotgun.  And Zachariah, in his quickest thinking, called down the shimmering Bifrost Blade and sliced the weapon clean in half.  With one hand, Zachariah clasped his fist around the man’s neck and pinned him against the doorway, raising his other hand and pointing the tip of his katana at the man’s throat.  He hiccuped and giggled like a child, breath smelling like spicy liquor.  “You two...are fools,” he drawled. “I’m only saving you from a worse fate.”  For the finale, the man spat in Zachariah’s fate, much to his dissent.

    Zachariah let the man down roughly and wiped his face.  He dissipated the Bifrost blade and gave the man an appalled look.  Without a breath wasted, Zachariah filled his palm with a bright orange star and shoved it in the drunkard’s face.  It collided with his cheek and burst with searing light, forcing him to the ground and crawling back inside.  Zachariah felt sorry for the man, chiding himself for such an outburst.  He turned to Beira, regardless of whether or not she was shocked by the display of impatience, and simply said, “You know what they say...When in Shinku, do as they do.”

    He dusted off his shoulders and tried to distance himself from the bar, already feeling the pressure of questionable eyes.  People in the street turned on their heels and walked in the opposite direction, and Zachariah spotted movement in the moonlight.  Shadows shifted where there weren’t previously shadows, curtains up in the buildings closed, individuals covered themselves with blackened hoods.  “We should try to get away from the city, or at least where there’s a lot of people,” he explained, but gestured for Beira to lead the way.  “I’ll follow you in the general direction.  I can summon a faster method of transportation once we arrive at the outskirts or away from main roads.”

    The silhouettes of songbirds perched on the rooftops seemed to be laughing at them, red-eyes rapidly opening and closing  and crimson feathers ruffling with each movement.  Zachariah wondered if the birds had taken a bath in blood, though something more sinister might have been going on in the background.  There was a magical wavelength to them, though weaker than Beira and Zach’s, as if they were someone’s familiar.  Zachariah summoned a pair of neon red darts and nailed them at the birds’ feet.  They flew up in fear, then darted away in the air.  Reddish feathers descended like snow, and as Zach tracked them with his eyes, they left a coherent path on the ground, unmoved by the breeze.  The feathery trail led in the same direction Beira explained.  “I think your source was correct, but whatever’s at the shrine seems to be expecting us.”

    As the sky darkened, Zachariah struggled to see forward.  The streetlamps flickered and failed to illuminate the plaza, and Zachariah thought to toss a Prismatic Dart in each to temporarily light the road in neon purple.  Given the atmosphere of Shinku, Zachariah focused on keeping the colors as ominous as possible, fearing that lighting a road in rainbow light would be a giveaway to his legal status.  Though, in the far off fog, four men in grey robes stood menacingly staring at the pair.

    WC: 757
    Total: 3253/7500
    Fraag
    Fraag

    Player 
    Lineage : Progeny of Arcanos
    Position : None
    Faction : The Luminous Covenant
    Posts : 1038
    Guild : Luminous Rose
    Cosmic Coins : 60
    Dungeon Tokens : 0
    Experience : 3,401,904

    Character Sheet
    First Skill: Arcane Fate Magic
    Second Skill: Night God Slayer
    Third Skill: Relativity God Slayer

    Zachariah & Beira: Into the Shadow Empty Re: Zachariah & Beira: Into the Shadow

    Post by Fraag 25th August 2019, 1:03 pm

    "Starting a bar fight without you?" Beira asked in mock surprise, her large eyes widening in feigned confusion. "Why, for the life of me, I'd never do such a thing." The sound of some commotion occurred behind the God Slayer, but she didn't turn. Her sixth sense had informed her of the fool charging towards the two mages with a shotgun. If he had gotten within touching range, she would probably have broken his nose. If he had stopped and aimed to shoot, he would have probably lost a hand, or worse. Zach, fortunately, intercepted him, slicing his weapon with a graceful sword; if Beira was right, it looked like a Midian sword. The God Slayer made a mental note to visit Midi one day.

    At the words of the drunk, Beira turned slightly to look over her shoulder, with a look of mild disdain on her face. The thought of someone spitting on her made her recoil in disgust. Zach was too kind; she would probably have made sure the fellow lost his nose, and half a dozen teeth. As the man crawled back into the pub like a cockroach, the Utgardian woman turned to Zach, her expression one of condescension, though she made it clear by her body language that it wasn't the Sabertooth mage she was currently thinking so little of. "'When in Shinku'? If that vulgarian had so much as done in Crocus what he did here, I would still not be nearly so forgiving. You're too kind, Zach..." here she paused and thought for a moment, then smiled ever so slightly, a sad smile that was gone just as soon as it was noticed. "Your treatment of him was much more merciful than mine would have been."

    At Zach's suggestion to get out of the city, the God Slayer gave a crisp nod, and began walking in the direction she had obtained by force from the mind of the bar rough. Beira noticed the weird reactions to the two mages now. Something like fear mixed with aversion. She kept that slightly haughty expression on her face though, the emotional mask safely hiding her thoughts which were not a single bit carefree. "Why the sudden change in atmosphere?" she wondered silently, walking with her eyes fixed straight ahead, although her senses were taking note of all the antics of the people. "Do they worship that overgrown turkey? In any case, it does seem the creature may be aware of our presence, and possibly our intentions.... Stay sharp, Beira...." Outwardly, she seemed to take no heed to the people, the strange black birds, and the darkening skies, if they could not become any darker.

    "I have noticed," the Utgardian said in response to Zach's notification of the fact that the shrine was probably anticipating them. "Shall we do the most polite thing and not keep our host waiting?" Just then, she noticed the four men in the distance standing and watching the pair. As things stood, they also seemed to be in the way that led to the shrine, which meant they probably wanted the mages to interact with them, for good or for ill. Without breaking stride, the Utgardian kept walking until she came within speaking range of the four men, and said, "Greetings, strangers. You seem to be standing in our way. Would you be so kind as to get off our path this instant?" The lines were delivered with the same temperature as the element Beira commanded. She had too little time to waste here with them. Bigger goals were to be aimed for.


    WC: 600 words
    Total: 3853/7500


    _____________________________________________________________________________________

    Lemony.Boy
    Lemony.Boy

    Player 
    Lineage : Brute of Fiore
    Position : None
    Posts : 189
    Guild : Errings Rising
    Cosmic Coins : 0
    Dungeon Tokens : 0
    Experience : 10,343

    Character Sheet
    First Skill:
    Second Skill:
    Third Skill:

    Zachariah & Beira: Into the Shadow Empty Re: Zachariah & Beira: Into the Shadow

    Post by Lemony.Boy 29th August 2019, 10:35 pm

    Zachariah half-heartedly laughed at Beira’s statement regarding the drunkard, unsure if she was joking about killing the man.  As he formulated some friendly banter in response, the atmosphere shifted to a grim scene.  Though, Beira’s boldness and unwavering stride brought a surprised grin to Zachariah’s face.  “It would be quite rude to show up late,” Zachariah said, matching Beira’s pace.  He couldn’t exactly copy her tough demeanor or the venomous way she threatened the men, but certainly tried to appear menacing with an icy smolder.  The hair on his neck tingled, and he worried he might be glowing, but nevertheless he was ready for a fight.

    “Of course,” one of the men said through gritted yellow teeth.  The four parted ways for Zachariah and Beira to pass, and the pair strutted through without a problem.  Though, the men had a suspicious aura to them.  Zachariah observed that their hands were hidden behind their backs, as if to mask something.  Weapons, maybe? he questioned mentally, watching them from the corner of his eye.  As they increased their distance from the city and made their way towards its gates, the men began to follow, only increasing his suspicions tenfold.  Zachariah followed Beira in the direction of the shrine, into the Dark Land.  It was biblically wild, thorny and littered with carcasses and dusty bones.  Zachariah only had a minute to breathe it all in before the assailants charged both of them with daggers and short swords.  They split into pairs, aiming to separate the both of them and overpower them in terms of numbers

    Out of instinct, Zachariah blinded the two with the Ultraviolent Flash and pulled out the Dagger of the Hatałii.  He only recently picked up the weapon from a foreign pawn shop, though it proved to be quite useful in a small skirmish.  It seemed to read his mind, activating the Coyote Claw ability the second he unveiled it.  A ghostly, humanoid figure ascended from the ground, face hidden by a wooden mask.  It bore sharp claws and deftly cut through the men as well as laid waste to their weapons and cloaks.  Though, the men were tougher than meets the eye, and sprung back at Zachariah with minimal struggle.  Zachariah engaged one in hand-to-hand, knocking him across the jaw with his fist and kicking the other in the stomach.  He didn’t want to waste his magic until they faced the Phoenix itself, but if push came to shove, he would summon some otherworldly assistance.

    “You’ll make a fine sacrifice,” muttered one of the men, who threw a fiery jar at Zachariah’s feet, forcing him to shield himself and back away.  Amidst the sudden smoke and ichor-colored flames, the heat singed the hair right off his knuckles and seared his sleeves.  One of the men lunged and smacked him in the chest, though Zachariah steeled himself and dodged the pursuing jabs.  I’ll just kill two birds with one stone, he thought, and extended his fingers outwards.  A ring of runes appeared around his feet as well as a column of green light from the sky.  He’d performed this summon a few times before, coming to him with ease.  Stepping from the light was the Orcadian demon of the sea; the Nuckelavee.  The demented centaur eyed Zachariah’s foes with malicious intention, holding up its crystal joust to prepare its strike.

    The Bane of Spring swung and batted the men into the shadows.  It then eyed Beira, who Zachariah figured would fair well on her own.  If she was in need of any assistance, Zachariah was right by her side to shine some light on her situation.  The Nuckelavee would remain until the pair was ready, offering its services as transportation and protection.

    WC: 622
    Total: 4475/7500
    Fraag
    Fraag

    Player 
    Lineage : Progeny of Arcanos
    Position : None
    Faction : The Luminous Covenant
    Posts : 1038
    Guild : Luminous Rose
    Cosmic Coins : 60
    Dungeon Tokens : 0
    Experience : 3,401,904

    Character Sheet
    First Skill: Arcane Fate Magic
    Second Skill: Night God Slayer
    Third Skill: Relativity God Slayer

    Zachariah & Beira: Into the Shadow Empty Re: Zachariah & Beira: Into the Shadow

    Post by Fraag 30th August 2019, 11:46 am

    Beira was surprised that the four strange men just let them pass without so much as an exchange of words. "Well, thank you then, kind sir," Beira said cheerily, smiling at the men as though just moments ago she hadn't expressed any hostility. She was sure they were up to something, though. The way their hands were kept behind their backs was not because they were accustomed to keeping them so. Instead, it was surely because there were weapons concealed by the men, weapons which Beira was sure they meant to use on herself and Zach. She could perceive, using her unnatural senses, that they were holding items... dangerous items....

    A part of her wondered whether she should tell Zach. She decided against it for two reasons. Firstly, she wanted to know what exactly the men were up to. If she told Zach, he might accost them immediately, and Beira didn't want that. Secondly, she wanted to see at least a foretaste of Zach's capability in combat. The Utgardian woman walked ahead, her eyes set on an indeterminate point on the horizon as she walked, guided by the memory she had torn from the mind of the rough at the pub. She noticed that the four men, who had been following the mages, began to draw closer. They would attack any time now...


    ...and not a moment too soon. Without turning to look, Beira ducked, as a blow from one of the men swung harmlessly over her head. He was holding a short club of sorts, in one hand, and a short sword in the other. The other man had two daggers. The Utgradian maid took a slight crouching stance, although her hands were empty, as her eyes flitted between the two men. "I would be very careful what I'm about to do, gentlemen," Beira said darkly. One of the men grinned at her with stained teeth. "Don't fool around," the other man said. "Let's just sacrifice these two, and be done with it." The first man snorted, then licked his lips. "Sacrificing them doesn't prevent me from first having a bit of fun with that body of hers." Beira sighed. "Very well, gentlemen, if that is what you desire."

    The man with the club and the sword began circling Beira, while the other man pulled out a strange jar, burning at the lid. Before he could throw it, Beira flung some shards of dark purple colored ice at him. The ice struck the man, and in a moment, he was frozen; he, the jar, and the flames on the jar. It was surreal, seeing the fire, which normally should have been in motion, glowing behind a veil of dark purple ice. Beira turned to face the other man. "It was not his desire to fool around, and he was well-obliged. You, however, will be well fooled-around with." The man, now realizing that he well may have bitten off more than he could chew, charged at the God Slayer, as he swung at her with his club. Beira sidestepped to avoid the attack, something the man expected, as he crossed his other arm to slash at her with the sword. Beira grabbed the incoming wrist, and guided the short sword into the man's throat, stepping to the side to avoid arterial spray, as she watched the dying man with distaste. "They never learn," she muttered with disgust, as she turned to look at Zach...

    ...and recoiled at the sight of the Nuckelavee. "What, in the names of all Jotunheimr curses, is that?!" She paused, the looked at Zach, the worry quite evident on her face. "Wait, is-- is that the 'transportation' you spoke of?" she asked with no little unease.


    WC: 620 words
    Total: 5095/7500


    _____________________________________________________________________________________

    Lemony.Boy
    Lemony.Boy

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    Zachariah & Beira: Into the Shadow Empty Re: Zachariah & Beira: Into the Shadow

    Post by Lemony.Boy 4th September 2019, 9:40 pm

    Zachariah was slightly surprised to see that Beira was taken aback upon seeing the Nuckelavee. She seemed like the type of person to be accustomed to such creatures. Though, Zachariah had to agree, as he too was shocked the first few times he summoned the creature. In comparison to the look on Beira’s face, he was alarmingly calm, deadpan almost. “This,” he explained, gesturing to the giant creature at his side, “is called the Nuckelavee. While I can also conjure a surfboard made of light, the Starlight Surfer might not be able to transport us as safely as the horseman can. God only knows what other creatures might be lurking out there, ready to eat us.”

    Zachariah eyed the corpses at Beira’s feet, unsure if they were moving or if their bodies were simply waning in the Shinku breeze. Regardless, the Nuckelavee sensed his uncertainty and skewered their bodies with its joust. Whatever semblance of life those men still held onto would be relinquished now as the corpses slunked closer to the ground, never to breathe again. It then gestured to Zachariah and Beira to mount it. “Of course, we could continue walking about the dark, if you would prefer,” Zachariah jested and climbed onto the Nuckelavee’s horse-like back. It was rough and hard like calluses on a palm, unmoving and stiff beneath him. While he’s traveled via this method before, something about riding a mythological demon horse was unsettling.

    In the distance, a pale grey light shot up into the sky like a needle to the heavens. It didn’t appear too far, perhaps a few miles out from their position now. Though, it wouldn’t be a fun trip by foot. At least by horseback, they could arrive in a few minutes and demolish anything in en route. The spire of light faded behind clouds and mist, but did not disappear entirely. By Zachariah’s approximations, the phoenix seemed to be growing tired of waiting for their arrival. While he wasn’t sure what the consequences of keeping the bird waiting might be, he would rather not wait and find out.

    The monstrous sounds of the Shinku wilderness were a bleak reminder that they had to keep moving lest they become creature-fodder. Without question, he took Beira’s hand and helped her onto the Nuckelavee’s back and slapped the summon’s side. It reared and dashed out into the dark. Underfoot, the disgruntling sound of crunching kept Zachariah on edge. He hoped that what he was hearing was the cracking of branches and foliage, though he knew deep inside that they were most likely the remains of doomed travelers. Luckily he was comfortably perched above it all, as wading through the decay would have sickened him to his core.

    Soon enough, the shrine made its appearance in the distance like a miniature silver temple sunken in a basin. It was open like a courtyard, and couldn’t be more than a couple hundred meters in width. The walls were taller than Zachariah, making entering the temple an almost dangerous plunge. As they approached, he could make out a shining grey orb, emanating light that shot into the sky. He was sure this was the place, as the magic in the air seemed to overwhelm his senses.

    “This must be it,” he muttered, pointing into the basin where the shrine resided. Through the bleak fog, he wasn’t sure if his eyes were deceiving him, or if there were human skeletons littered around the edges of the shrine. He tried not to squint too hard, but curiosity got the best of him. Hopping of the Nuckelavee’s back, he walked over to the edge of the basin and peered down into it. It was empty for the most part, except for a few ravens skittering about. “Are you ready to greet our patient host?” he asked. “I know I am.”

    WC: 642
    Total: 5737/7500
    Fraag
    Fraag

    Player 
    Lineage : Progeny of Arcanos
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    Posts : 1038
    Guild : Luminous Rose
    Cosmic Coins : 60
    Dungeon Tokens : 0
    Experience : 3,401,904

    Character Sheet
    First Skill: Arcane Fate Magic
    Second Skill: Night God Slayer
    Third Skill: Relativity God Slayer

    Zachariah & Beira: Into the Shadow Empty Re: Zachariah & Beira: Into the Shadow

    Post by Fraag 6th September 2019, 4:32 am

    Beira turned to look at Zach, performing a mock imitation of his own deadpan expression. "Your confidence is reassuring." Turning her head slightly away from the Sabertooth mage, she studied the strange thing called the Nuckelavee for a moment, watching it as it ensured that the fallen attackers were dead. It seemed to be well under Zach's control, so perhaps it was safe to ride on. Didn't mean she had to like it. The option of walking in the dark didn't sound so terrible to Beira, but it was much better to conserve her energy via the use of a mount, rather than spend what could be better expended fighting the giant bird, which, as of yet, she was not quite aware of its capabilities.

    Shortly after Zach had mounted the Nuckelavee, a grey light, if ever light could shine grey, shot up into the dark sky, an ominous beam reaching into the heavens. Beira turned her attention to it momentarily, suspecting that it was from the temple to which the mages traveled that the light had emanated. After all, they were traveling in the exact direction. The gloom of Shinku's landscape only made the whole grey light apparition more eerie, but Beira wasn't too disturbed by it. She had seen her fair share of strange things in her short life (or quite rather long, though most of it had been spent sleeping), although the thought of riding on a skinless cadaver was still a bit too much. And that brought the attention of the God Slayer back to the Nuckelavee. It seemed she had very little choice aside riding it. Of course, she could attempt passing through the Travectio Infinium, the Infinite Crossroads, to get to the shrine, but she didn't know exactly where it was, and attempting to get to a place by randomly using the Crossroads was a foolish and dangerous thing. She was also not at all interested in leaving Zach behind, and she didn't trust that she could keep him safe in the Travectio Infinium. So, it was demon-zombie-horse thing.

    Taking the hand of the Sabertooth mage, she allowed him to help her onto the back of the Nuckelavee, though she couldn't help but feel a deal of revulsion. All the same, she quickly got over the feeling. As the creature flew across the landscape, Beira imagined what a sight they would appear to be. The stuff of nightmares, no less. The sound of hoof on crunchy material underneath was disconcerting. Beira knew the sound of bone underfoot, or underhoof, in this case, and she suspected that the Nuckelavee passed over many corpses. To whom they belonged was a speculation she decided to keep to herself.

    Eventually the riders reached a small temple in a depression. Beira jumped nimbly off the Nuckelavee's back, glad to be on solid ground. She followed Zach's gaze to the floating stone and nodded. "We had best not keep our dear host waiting, then," the God Slayer replied, stretching her hands towards the edge of the basin. Dark purple ice coalesced to form a ramp, which she leaped onto and slid down into the basin. Without further ado, she began walking towards the large gem floating before her, when the ground began to rumble. From the earth emerged a form of blood and shadows, quickly taking shape to form a massive bird. "Hmmm, larger than I thought," the Utgardian mused as she held up a hand towards the bird in greeting. "Hail, creature. We have come to--"

    The sentence was unfinished as the bird screeched, a massive blast of shadows and blood spiraling from its mouth towards Beira. She pounced out of the way, as a spear of nether ice formed in her right hand, and a short sword in the other. "Not a fan of small talk? Good. I think we shall understand each other."


    WC: 646 words
    Total: 6383/7500


    _____________________________________________________________________________________

    Lemony.Boy
    Lemony.Boy

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    Zachariah & Beira: Into the Shadow Empty Re: Zachariah & Beira: Into the Shadow

    Post by Lemony.Boy 10th September 2019, 9:39 pm

    Zachariah’s eyes followed Beira as she deftly slid from the Nuckelavee. The terrain was indeed the stuff of nightmares, and the temple appeared to be a shimmering oasis in this valley of death. The God slayer approached the edge of the depression and formed a ramp, and Zachariah aided her. He temporarily utilized a partial Take-Over titled Ginnungagap Mold, his limbs shortly becoming encased in ice, and sped up the process with the Snærr Touch. As the icy ramp formed, the temperature slightly dropped as well to a brisk, but not freezing, atmosphere. He slid down the ramp and followed Beira towards the gem, not a hint of trepidation within. Whatever fear he had seemed to have disappeared before their arrival. With each step, his breathing steadied, his heart beat like the wardrum. “I feel rude, should we have brought gifts for our host?” Zachariah mused. “Some seeds? A mouse perhaps?”

    Beira strutted up to the center of the shrine with what Zachariah perceived as regality and confidence. The gem before them illuminated their arena, resembling a tiny moon almost. Though, the moment she touched the gem, the earth was shaken by tremors like that of an eruption. Zachariah shielded his eyes from the blood and shadow and prepared himself for battle. When the phoenix arose, Zachariah joked, “Not sure about you, but I won’t be able to eat poultry the same after this.” He had partially calculated a plan before their arrival, albeit a mix of improvisation and strategic strikes. His thoughts collected with quick clarity, light magic, he reminded himself, use what’s familiar to your advantage.

    Without any time to react, the bird screeched unlike any songbird had screeched before. It was deafening, but warranted the assistance of the Nuckelavee, who had been patiently waiting above the basin. The crystal summon cried out as well and leapt into the basin. It was roughly the same size as the Phoenix, and stood behind the pair with its joust primed to attack. The spiral of decay curved through the air after Beira’s evasion, making its way towards Zachariah with remarkable speed. Out of instinct, he deflected it with his icy hand and slapped it into the wall of the basin, forming a curved wall of red and blue ice. For the most part, he would play off of Beira’s attack patterns, finding it would be the most successful execution of the battle. A column of light descended upon him as he shifted from Ymir to the full Heimdallr Take-Over. His body became colored like the night sky and his hair turned pure white. Going from zero to a hundred that quick knocked the wind out of his chest, but the adrenaline kept him moving fast. He aimed his body for the ramp and used the Bifrost Call spell to propel himself through the air at blinding speed, charging up Unison I in one hand, and a hot Morning Star in the other.

    Now he was up close and personal with the monster and collided into the beast with neon blue and orange light. For a moment, Shinku was illuminated with bright light that immediately fled into the upper reaches of the sky. The Phoenix recoiled and masked itself behind its wings, but was clearly damaged. Small, hand-sized blue crystals floated around the beast like a thin veil, feeding small amounts of magic back to Zachariah and Beira. As it extended its wingspan, an inky black, foul-smelling gust kicked up and nearly knocked Zachariah off his feet. The blackened air stung his airways, feeling as if it was sapping his health. He turned around to see the Nuckelavee galloping towards the Phoenix, joust in hand. It approached the beast from the left side, ready to pierce it.

    As if the murky air wasn’t enough, stormy crimson clouds formed above, seemingly full of black rain and lightning. Zachariah glanced over to Beira, wondering what the next move would be.

    WC: 657
    Total: 7040/7500
    Fraag
    Fraag

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    Lineage : Progeny of Arcanos
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    Posts : 1038
    Guild : Luminous Rose
    Cosmic Coins : 60
    Dungeon Tokens : 0
    Experience : 3,401,904

    Character Sheet
    First Skill: Arcane Fate Magic
    Second Skill: Night God Slayer
    Third Skill: Relativity God Slayer

    Zachariah & Beira: Into the Shadow Empty Re: Zachariah & Beira: Into the Shadow

    Post by Fraag 11th September 2019, 7:45 am

    Beira had laughed at Zach's inquiry as to whether they should have brought gifts for their 'host'. Of course, proper etiquette demanded that a visitor brought something to appreciate the one who'd thrown their doors open and showed hospitality. Yet, Beira could easily say that so far, the two mages had been shown quite little, if any, hospitality in this strange world. Well, the strange bird could not be blamed, the Utgardian surmised. It hardly fit into the description of a host. She had been just about to make a response when the phoenix had appeared and attacked.

    Initially, Beira had thought Zach was a mage with light-based magic, but she was beginning to wonder what else he was capable of. Sure, she knew he could summon; the crystalline macabre equestrian proved it. And yet, when he had used ice to support her making of the ramp, something seemed familiar about it, but Beira had waved it off, supposing it was probably one of them moments of deja vu. She would have to ask him about the ice, though. What, however, made her curiosity skyrocket was when, after deflecting the phoenix's attack, he transformed into some sort of cosmic-looking entity. For the magic she felt emanating from the Sabertooth mage reminded her of home, of Utgardr. She didn't know why it did, but it was very possible that this boy's magic and her own had some sort of connection. While eager to find out what exactly it was, there was a phoenix to kill first.

    The collision between Zach and the bird was spectacular, with Beira being quite impressed by the dazzling display of lights. Yet, even though the bird was hurt by his attack, it performed a counterattack of its own, and that in the form of some strange black wind. Whatever the wind was, the Utgardian knew it was certainly not safe to be inhaling, and Zach was somewhere within it. Coating herself in an aura of nether rime, Beira invoked her Winter God Dominance, as she held up a hand and strode towards the murky cloud rapidly expanding towards her. As the cloud came in contact with her, the inky air coalesced into miniature dark purple crystals, which fell to the ground and shattered harmlessly.

    "I hope you are alright, funny man," the Utgardian said, standing beside him and casting a glance at the charging Nuckelavee. It would distract the bird long enough for her to perform a counterattack... or not. A streak of strange blood-red lightning streaked overhead, far too low to have been in the sky, and massive drops of blood, wreathed with shadow descended from the dark heavens, causing mayhem to the landscape. "Precept 57: Vallum Mystici!" the God Slayer yelled, stamping her foot, as a mass of black hands burst forth from the earth, creating a pulsating wall which bent over at the top to form a dome, shielding the two mages from the blood rain. The wall rose behind the mages, so they still had full view of the phoenix.

    "Let us hope your horse is doing safely as well, Zach. Winter God Spear!" So saying, a barbed purple lance formed in her hand, which she threw at the phoenix, just as it engaged the Nuckelavee, the double-pronged attack causing the phoenix to transfer attention from the rain, which drizzled out, to face its aggressors. Then suddenly, Beira dissolved into black smoke and glowing runes, and was gone. Not up to half a second later, she reappeared, over and behind the phoenix, a great double-headed axe of nether rime in her hands, which she swung into the back of the avian, screaming an Utgardian battle cry. It shrieked, and from the air around it, about ten birds, identical to the phoenix but much smaller, appeared, slamming into Beira with the force of a ramrod. The impact tossed her like a ragdoll into the side of the basin in which the hrine was located. Unwilling to appear weak, she rose to her feet and shouted her defiance at the eagle-sized birds flying towards her. A sword of nether rime formed in each hand, as she waited for the birds to come within range, while hoping that Zach would take advantage of whatever distractions she had caused the bird.


    WC: 715 words
    Total: 7755/7500


    _____________________________________________________________________________________

    Lemony.Boy
    Lemony.Boy

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    Zachariah & Beira: Into the Shadow Empty Re: Zachariah & Beira: Into the Shadow

    Post by Lemony.Boy 15th September 2019, 9:13 pm

    Zachariah felt absolutely dazzled, if you could describe a feeling that way.  His lungs tingled from breathing heavily and pins and needles pricked his skin.  He was alarmed to be lost in the thick of the black air and rain, but became even more alarmed to see shadowy hands arise from beneath his feet.  Out of instinct, he shielded his eyes and nose, thinking this would be the end. Though, lo and behold, he concluded it must have been Beira’s work when a dome formed around him. He had heard her shout something vague earlier, and only now realized the mage had casted a spell to protect the both of them.  Despite not being able to see her, he called out into the darkness, “You are truly a godsend, Beira!”

    The shriek of the Nuckelavee echoed about the wilderness, followed by a foreign-sounding battlecry.  As soon as he took a step forward, the atmosphere cleared up, unveiling the arena to him.  While the Nuckelavee pinned the Phoenix to the wall with its joust, it appeared that Beira had been thrown across the terrain.  She still stood tall and strong, but Zachariah could sense a faint vulnerability in her joints. “Beira!” he cried, and rushed to her side.  Surrounding her were a dozen or so crow-sized phoenixes that moved in irregular patterns.  Amidst his sprint across the battlefield, he turned to see the Phoenix grasp the Nuckelavee’s throat with its beak, causing it to whinny and lose its grip.  Although no blood spilled out from its throat, a shimmering, ichor-like substance sputtered out and left glowing puddles on the ground.  The Nuckelavee then burst into rainbow-colored dust, not a trace left behind.  When the summon was destroyed, an aching pang strung Zachariah in the temple, though he limped on.

    The bird freed itself and proceeded to puff a powerful gale of shadow and blood towards Beira, akin.  Zachariah sprang in front of the attack and tried to summon the Gjallarhorn.  He placed his hands in front of him and blew all the air from his lungs, conjuring a magical golden trumpet and forming shining rings in the air.  But, he couldn’t deflect the entirety of its attack, and was clipped in the shoulder and left side.  His Take-Over maintained its form, but he didn’t know for how long.  Luckily, the Nuckelavee returned a small portion of Zachariah’s magic power, but barely a substantial amount.  As the battle wore on, he could feel the Phoenix’s strength sapping exponentially.  The effects of his Unison I spell continued to drain some of its magic and return it to the two mages.

    “Scatterbeam!” he shouted and pointed his index finger at the flock around Beira.  An array of lasers flew from his fingertip and pierced through several of the birds at a time, Zach making sure not to nick his partner on accident.  As soon as she was freed, he ran to her side.  “Fancy seeing you again,” he joked. “I have a plan.  I’m going to use a spell called the Voidbane that will petrify it, then you come in and land the final blow,” he explained.

    “Ready?” he asked, and held his palm up forward.  Light formed in a circle in front of him.  And as soon as he drew the magic circle, a mountain of color and white light engulfed the bird, then disappeared.  The Phoenix froze mid-air, then fell to the ground.  Its now stone body cracked but did not break, and each of its movements failed to free it.  “Now!”

    WC: 590
    Total: 8345/7500
    Fraag
    Fraag

    Player 
    Lineage : Progeny of Arcanos
    Position : None
    Faction : The Luminous Covenant
    Posts : 1038
    Guild : Luminous Rose
    Cosmic Coins : 60
    Dungeon Tokens : 0
    Experience : 3,401,904

    Character Sheet
    First Skill: Arcane Fate Magic
    Second Skill: Night God Slayer
    Third Skill: Relativity God Slayer

    Zachariah & Beira: Into the Shadow Empty Re: Zachariah & Beira: Into the Shadow

    Post by Fraag 16th September 2019, 7:29 am

    Beira steeled herself for battle, as the miniature phoenixes zoomed in towards her. She sliced through the first bird with her ice sword, while readying the second blade to defend, and if possible, counter an attack that surprisingly never came. A burst of light exploded around the Utgardian, as beams of light skewered the birds. Beira was wise enough to not attempt coming in contact with the effects of Zach's spell. She allowed her guarded stance to drop as the Sabertooth mage ran over to her. "I'm not as fragile as your Nuckelavee, then," she quipped back with a grateful smile, though the God Slayer was almost certain that if the great bird of shadow and blood had done to her what it did to the Nuckelavee, she might not be thinking of wisecracks to retort with.

    Zach's plan seemed solid enough, and Beira was up for it. If not for any other reason than to get the battle over with quickly. She was in need of some rest, and she was sure Zach was as well. Waiting until he had cast his petrification spell, Beira stepped up beside him and clapped her hands together.

    "Winter God Barrage!"

    A huge form coalesced behind the two mages, a giant figure of a warrior queen made of nether rime, The statue suddenly burst as quickly as it had been formed, and shards of razor-sharp ice flew towards the incapacitated bird. It shrieked as the projectiles smashed into it relentlessly, one after the other, and the ground shook from the impact of Beira's assault. Shortly after the last shard struck the phoenix, there was a considerable silence, denoting the possibility of the battle being over. Beira was just about mentioning to Zach that they had most likely achieved their goal, when the shadowy bird rose up before them once again.

    "For the love of Winter and its storms!" the Utgardian exclaimed, wondering what it would take to actually defeat this foe. But the phoenix simply bowed to the two mages, and in a plume of red smoke, was gone. The shrine was empty, save for the black stone that had attracted the two mages initially. "I think that's it, then," the God Slayer said happily, as she walked to the stone and picked it. Immediately, flashes of scenes of alien worlds streaked before her vision, making her almost drop the stone. "Whoa..." she whispered, as her vision returned to normal. "Zach, I think there are three other shrines like this one. What do you think collecting all four of these stones would accomplish? In any case, I suppose we had best rest here a while before returning, lest unsavory people set on us."

    As she seated herself on the hard ground of the shrine, Beira looked towards the dark skies of Shinku, her mind wandering the vistas of worlds in revolution beyond the blanketed darkness of Shinku's heavens.

    COMPLETED


    WC: 485 words
    Total: 8830/7500


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