Her face and neck, upper chest, exposed parts of her hands… even sections of her arms covered by fabrics, burned, but she was still smiling. How could she not? She was back. Not to full strength, no, but it felt… close. Close enough, anyway, that it left her giddy and almost breathless. She'd only been on Earth a few scarce years, and already… she felt closer to her goals than she had in the past few hundred.
A laugh broken by heavy breaths erupted as Dagon clasped her shoulder, offering nods and smiles to Chariklo and Urania. "Can't let you have all the fun," she chirped back, grinning as they each set off an attack of their own. Solaris took hold of the hilt of the spike once more, feeling that energy coursing through her… but she didn't feel herself drowning in it. It was strong, yes, far beyond her, but she could coast along it, like an updraft. She could hold herself steady enough for the time being.
Ekstrom received no less of a brilliant smile, but as the Knight faltered somewhat, Solaris followed her gaze up…. and finally saw the face of the beast that broke through the clouds. "It's decided we're annoying enough pests, I guess." She winced at the lightning strikes, but narrowed her gaze at the strange… dark lightning? "...not too fond of the look of that. Don't suppose anyone's got one of those scanners the Velencians do to try and get a read on the weird lightning?" Wishful thinking, probably, but she couldn't help but think of the whole…. Dark Star bit.
"Oh it's definitely getting stronger, we just need to keep hitting it… and if anyone's able to help out with that shield the Velencians are putting up, best to keep doing that. Moment it's small enough, we can trap the damn thing."
With her other hand free, she pointed it up towards the Calamitous Hollow, still feeling a thrill at least as she channeled her magic. It was going wild though in this place… "Catalytic Combustion!" Snapping her fingers, she winced at the burn of heat that came from her own magic onto her hand and arm, even as the magic shot off to its actual target before exploding in another rip of golden energy... just certainly not nearly as strong as her previous strike. She shook her hand sharply, scowling. "Magic's more unstable here than usual…" Thinking of that, she reached into subspace, pulling out that small bag from Almadel. His note mentioned health... curious, she reached into and grabbed the small berry, popping it into her mouth. She felt a bit better for it, whatever it'd been, even as some of the electricity danced along her skin in a rather uncomfortable fashion...
The Hollow's attacks were weakening what defenses they had, and as far as Rakovanite could see from his position, there didn't seem to be any more big blasts of damage coming from anywhere. Which meant everything was just up to whatever little pinpricks of damage they could do as a group until this monstrosity could be contained. But it was hurting them significantly more than they were hurting it. It was only by virtue of his greater rank that Rakovanite didn't feel... as bad as nearly everyone else with him looked.
He didn't usually see it as a detriment that no one in his squad had any sort of healing magic or shielding proficiency- mainly because Narcissus had practical knowledge in that department. But 'practical knowledge' would do very little to help them immediately.
Rakovanite pulled his gaze from the creature overhead and back to where they stood. He should send Narcissus- and maybe Feldspar and Vauxite- Somewhere they would be safer... If that was anywhere. Somewhere in front of him, the Vanguard were still maintaining the shield. But it wasn't close, and frankly the shield didn't seem any stronger there than here. While nearly right next to them was the Dark Mirror Prince and what was probably half of his Court.
"Go find Remarque," Rakovanite tossed over his shoulder at Narcissus. "He will keep you safer than I can." As evidenced by the people around him not about to fall over, surely. "Take the girl with you."
He would've encouraged Vauxite, Feldspar, and Weissite to follow suit, but he doubted his recommendations would be appreciated. They were grown men; they could decide for themselves.
He would stay where he was and keep doing the little he could. At least his chakram could be thrown- it now seemed an infinitely better idea to keep his feet on the ground than it did to teleport.
CorruptEternalDieselofCombustion and Chaos Mauvian Gremlin (Cat) Location: F9 Action: attacking Total [Diesel]: 1 + 10 (Rank) = 11 Total [Gremlin]: 10 HP [Diesel]: 115 - 38 (CH Attack) - 11 (this post) = 66 HP [Gremlin]: 65 - 38 (CH Attack) - 20 (this post) = 7 [Updated to reflect that he is in cat form; was previously calculated using human form HP, which is incorrect. His damage rolls were correctly using cat-form in all previous posts.]
Gremlin had been comfortable enough. Diesel's hood was like his own little pocket where he could snap at people from, but hardly anyone would even know he was there if he chose not to make himself noticeable. But the lightning prickled through the fabric, and he squirmed, hissed, slunk from the nest of Diesel's hood to lay belly-flat across his Senshi's shoulders.
"Hey, two-legged meatsack, I want us out of here."
Diesel, being fortunate enough to be better off than his nearby friends, still wore a strained smile. "Oh, yeah? Do you? It's nice to want things. I'm taking suggestions for how to get out of here, if you've got em."
Gremlin grumbled in answer, tossing a glare back toward Feldspar and Weissite like they'd done something to offend him, even though Gremlin was clearly extremely, extremely low on any of their priority lists. "You're idiot redhead... He'll need to get out quick too, if you're expecting him to live..."
And, yyyyeah, that was probably true... Diesel found himself following Gremlin's gaze to look back at Feldspar too. Another shock from that monster, and that'd probably be it, for about half the team. ...So they were all about to be in trouble. He wasn't convinced another wave of attacks would finish the Hollow right now, but it wasn't like they could leave, either. There was nothing to do but fight with another blast of magic, and another (almost fearful) swipe of Gremlin's claws.
EchosSweet
Narcissus + Calaverite + Feldspar
Shanyume
Vauxite / Markeb
BiggerinTexas
Weissite
shiningamisgirl
Diasporite
Indigo_Plateau Crew
Offline
Shanyume
Anxious Friend
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Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2025 12:39 pm
Half-youma General Lavendulan Location: H3 Action: Talking to Staurolite and encouraging him to attack. Total: N/A - already rolled page 72 HP: (Already calculated this prompt) 79
Although Wolframite was no longer physically there with them, Lavendulan remained connected to him through the earring after he had used his Shadow Pass Charm to attack the Calamitous Hollow from above.
She tried to hold back her emotions to keep them from bleeding through the link they shared, but remained aware of his movements, the blooming pride he felt when his claws broke brittle scales, and the ‘oh ********’ feeling when he landed near a group of knights. He was by no means unscathed, but at least Wolframite was alive.
Trusting that Wolframite would keep his word, Laendulan moved to stand beside Staurolite, her gaze following his as the Calamitous Hollow swam through the clouds above them. “I have no idea what it is... “ she admitted solemnly. “It’s aura… presence… It’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen in Destiny City or the Rift.”
The most powerful creature she’d faced to date was the Greater Youma, a shapeshifter named Radon, which paled in both size and power to this god-like beast above them.
“Do what you can,” Laven placed a hand on his shoulder, her gaze resting on the weapon attached to his wrist before adding, “It’s all anyone can ask at this point.” The dome was failing above them, and everyone was injured from falling debris, the electrical shockwave, and even not-so-friendly fire.
Location: A4. Action:attacking the Calamitous Hollow’s TAIL, per Heliodor’s suggestion. Total: 2 +5 (second stage) +10 (Almadel’s Pin) + ??? = 17. HP: 34 / 125 (85 – 38 from Calamitous Hollow general attack – 13 from shield failure)
Ilmari’s emotions felt like a hurricane within him, and the Calamitous Hollow breaking through the shields didn’t help. Even so, he forced himself to breathe as deeply as he could, trying to keep himself from losing his head again. He tried to keep his feet on the ground, metaphorically speaking. Literally, that didn’t feel like much of an issue. The mess of the gravity in this place kept allowing people to jump up and physically attack the thing, but as he braced himself for additional shockwaves that came through the faltering shield, Ilmari felt like it wouldn’t do that for him.
(He did not stop to ask himself why he felt that. He simply knew that he did feel that way. It felt like an unshakeable certainty that Ilmari wouldn’t be able to jump like that, even if other senshi could. People who failed their teams by unleashing petulant tantrums as Ilmari had couldn’t jump like that, it only made sense. He was fine, he just had to try better. He had to be better. Had to stop letting down his team and making everything about himself and being a horrible disappointment who wasn’t worth the time and effort that had been wasted on training him, on even bringing him into the Negaverse—)
Ilmari shook his head, trying to banish those thoughts.
Heliodor had some connection to the Calamitous Hollow, obtained during his and Faustite’s misadventure in the prison that had once contained said beast. Right, that was the perfect information. Attack the tail. Ilmari readied himself to go—then hesitated as he watched how Faustite went. He swallowed thickly, waiting for Hestia’s count to finish……but he couldn’t stand the wait. Leaping up, not trusting the broken gravity in this place so much as willing himself to not think about it, Ilmari went for the creature’s tail, blowing a kiss to summon his magic.
He stayed at the ready, when he landed. Ready to haul a** outside the barrier to search for Faustite whenever Hestia gave the order.
Quote:
Super Sailor Scout Attack: Chaste Restraint. Ilmari summons this magic by blowing a kiss at his intended targets. Instantly, they are hit with a moderate chill that places them into a chaste state of mind and resets them to a pure, unblemished state by cooling their passions, dulling their emotions, and strongly urging them to exercise restraint in their actions, making it more difficult for them to attack. This can be distracting can leave enemies feeling dazed, stunned, or without any drive. The chill is illusory; it does not deal damage. Ilmari can choose up to three targets within 15 feet. The effects last for 35 seconds, and Ilmari may use this attack two times per battle.
Items Remaining:Almadel’s Pin (+10 to one roll), Almadel’s Berry (+15 HP)
Corrupt Sailor Industria Location: A8 Action: Buffing Cryptomelane, using her berry Total: 8 HP: 65 - 38 + 15 = 42
Oh.
Of all the things Industria had expected her magic to inspire, a kiss was not one of them—but it left her giddy and eager, wide-eyed and bright. Even if it was only for a moment, it was as electric as the Hollow’s lightning—though indeed a far more pleasant electricity.
She watched, gleeful, as Cryptomelane leapt up and used her magic to aid in striking the beast—and gently poked Ympe’s cheek, looking very, very pleased with herself.
The Hollow’s lightning hurt, yes, but she produced the berry from the mysterious Almadel and ate it,. And was glad for how it made her feel heartened.
“Are you alright, Ympe?” She asked, concerned. But only for a moment.
“Ah, Captain, my Captain,” she purred, when Cryptomelane returned to the ground. “You are glorious. Go, again. Spirit of invention.”
This time, it was Industria who moved close, who cupped Cryptomelane’s cheek, who pressed a brief kiss to his lips.
Quote:
Sailor Scout Attack: Spirit of Invention! Industria claps her hands, and everyone in an 8-foot radius around her will hear a loud clanking of gears and briefly see an illusion of the inside of a massive steampunk machine. Allies within the radius will find themselves seized with a spirit of invention--a sudden clarity of thought and focus that allows them to focus on problem-solving in a clever and inventive way. These effects will last for 25 seconds, and Industria can use this spell three times per battle.
Half Youma Captain Janggunite and Youma Maikoh Location: H2 Action: attacking Total [Janggunite]: 1 + 5 (Rank) = 6 Total [Maikoh]: 7 + 5 (Rank) = 12 HP [Janggunite]: 90 - 38 (CH Attack) = 52 HP [Maikoh]: 90 - 38 (CH Attack) - 17 (this post) = 35
Ah, Maikoh did like this girl. Despite how they must all be feeling such fear and agony in their mortal human bodies, she appreciated the willingness to fight. Maikoh was of course willing to give assistance by flinging the poor girl closer to her doom- But in fairness, she had requested it (or at least agreed to it).
Janggunite had not, and he looked significantly more furious (and disheveled) as he made it back to Maikoh's side- tail swaying, looking far too pleased with herself.
"We are all going to die here," Janggunite hissed. "And you're being- this way?"
Maikoh turned her skulled-muzzle skyward. "You will die. Fearing such things is a horrible burden. Maikoh is not concerned. Maikoh only wants to make sure that if this is the last fight, it is a good one! Come! It is a wondrous opportunity! And you are ruining it! Look, the Snack is more damaged than you and more pleased! Such beautiful spirit!"
Jan did chance a glance at Lameia, and also chanced a hissed warning to the Sneshi, "Can you not encourage her, thanks? She's already a handful..." He huffed, the petaled tip of his tail landing in surprisingly heavy thuds against the ground as it twitched. "I'm going to use- whatever this ability is. Magic, I suppose. Keep your distance, so you aren't affected."
At least he wouldn't need to be thrown- to do that much. Even if he wasn't sure what a little pollen cloud would do to such a monstrous enemy...
The knight's shield, small though it was, was very effective, and again the collaboration of magic and technology plucked at Rhysi's perspective. Tugging it a little further in a new direction. The sixth spike had thankfully taken hold with relatively safety. Job relatively complete, Rhysi's attention returned to the air and her comtech, bringing up the holographic screen and testing as to whether it could still record in this space.
The movement was just in time to capture the creature, known as the Calamitous Hallow, heaving itself up and shattering its mirrored chains. The change in atmosphere, the full reveal of its diminished form. The dimensional tearing from its claws. All was caught and recorded for future study.
As lightning crashed down in a fashion that had become increasingly familiar this past month, Rhysi continued recording, even as she continued to fire energy bolts up at the beast.
For a moment she paused, turning her head to take in the chibi senshi that was looking much worse for the wear. Turning to look at the Earth Squire, Rhysi stated, "Child's hurt." As she spoke, making very direct eye contact, Rhysi popped the merchant's berry into her mouth, immediately feeling a little better herself.
There was little he could do besides continue attacking. And besides being generally mentally and emotionally beaten down, he'd barely even taken note of anyone specifically with them-
Right up until another girl spoke to them. And as soon as she had, he became increasingly aware of the others in his immediate vicinity. ...They were all Cosmos Knights, in various stages of shimmering and beautiful. He glanced back at Ele, as if silently asking if she was familiar with anyone here. And it did make him feel just the tiniest bit better that they were there. In part because it was just more bodies against the Hollow.
And in part because Cosmos was one of very few Celestial Entities that was actually present for her Knights. Had done something to help in this very fight... Even still, one of the girls glowed and Transcended to a greater power right there on the spot.
It would be nice if Pluto's Princess could come make some s**t happen, but...
Nnnnope, that didn't seem to be happening. He'd have to fend for himself and hope he and Ele made it through this somehow.
Location: G6. Action:attacking the Calamitous Hollow with his magic. Total: 2 (roll x2 from DSS magic) +5 (second stage) +10 (Almadel’s pin) = 17. HP: 50 / 125 (87 +17 from Mirabilite’s round one shield – 38 from Calamitous Hollow general attack – 15 from shield failure – 1 from DSS magic backlash)
While Corvina didn’t understand what Lanting was doing with the little Lieutenant—nor why the Lieutenant thought he knew anything about Lanting’s commendable endurance simply from the sight of Corvina—but it didn’t matter. There remained a beast to destroy and Corvina was not about to let the opportunity pass him by. What for, at that? So he could stand around and overthink about things he had very little desire to understand (unless said things mattered to Lanting)?
No. Definitely not.
Yet, perhaps it was jealousy clouding his mind (because Lanting shared something he didn’t understand with someone who was not A Non-Romantic Friend like Dunnottar, Kaifeng, and Murikabushi). Or perhaps the shockwave of damage that penetrated the shield and slammed into Corvina knocked him off his game. But when he snapped his fingers and exhaled over his open palm, something about his attack felt as though it did not strike true. Not in the way it should have done. On top of that, his magic felt volatile in a way it never had.
Quote:
Super Sailor Scout Attack: Six-Petaled Crown. Corvina snaps a finger, then blows over an open palm, sending a rush of spectral windflower petals toward a maximum of three targets within 15 feet of him. The spectral petals briefly whirl around the targets before settling around their heads as crowns, imparting a sense of fragility and a feeling that they have been cursed by bad luck. Although these feelings are illusory (enemies are not actually weakened and their luck is unaffected), they are very difficult to shake off. Small emotional slights feel world-shattering, like something targets will struggle to recover from. Pain from other attacks feels significantly worse (e.g., a hard, well-aimed punch may feel like it has cracked someone’s ribs, even though it hasn’t). Misfortunes that befall affected targets feel like evidence of their alleged bad luck.
This magic lasts for 35 seconds; any lingering emotional effects are at individual players’ discretion. Corvina may use this attack two times per battle.
Maybe it was a gesture of reminding people who belonged to Lanting, but once he’d fired off his attack, Corvina looked to Lanting with his eyes wide and sparkling. “I could use the healing, xinhuamain,” he pleaded, using an old Corvinate word that meant, loosely, the one for whom my heart blossoms. A quick glance aside at their comrades and Karakorum, then Corvina quickly added, “Unless there is greater need among our comrades?”
Quote:
Items Remaining:Almadel’s Pin (+10 to one roll), Almadel’s Berry (+15 HP)
Akaganeite could feel its lightning strikes pulsing through her, and winced when one came through the slowly cracking shield to strike her directly.
It hurt. But there was an opportunity.
“I can see its back to strike it,” she told Ako, softly. “I won’t tell you not to follow me. But it will be dangerous.” She’d seen the way it wore down Aquamarine, teleporting above it to strike. But she could not let such an opportunity pass her by.
So she flicked her thumb over her pin from Almadel, and teleported up.
It was only for a brief instant. Just long enough to strike at it with her blade. But even then, the Hollow’s storms lashed out.
When she returned to the ground, she fell to her knees, driving her sword into the ground and leaning on it, heavily.
Ancha, basic Senshi of Red Tide Location: F6 -> E4 (bringing Hydor along with permission!) Action: attacking the CH, taking them to a place with more people, eating a berry Total: 9 HP: 42 /100
Being out on their own wasn't going to go well for them. Ancha looked this way and that, seeing a couple of large groups. "Look, we need more cover than what we have. There are more people over there."
That did not mean, however, that she would not cast her attack into the air between the broken shield and what passed for ground and hope for the best. Like before, the fumes were drawn upward, and Ancha figured that was the best she could hope for. The second-best thing she could hope for was that nobody stumbled into the water she was leaving behind.
Her berry went in her mouth as she strode the distance to the other group.
Sacha, Order Mauvian Location: F6 -> E4 (bringing Hydor along with permission!) Action: 100% of his effort straight to CH Total: 10 HP: 42/100
Ancha wasn't the only one to eat her berry, Sacha shortly following suit as he bound along behind her and Hydor. He, too, was eager to get where there would be more people. Sure, it made the collective a larger target, but, by the same token, that didn't seem to matter to a creature this size, and Sacha would rather have the herd benefit. But that didn't stop him from firing his forehead laser toward the great beast, hoping to at least stun it.
Seiana_ZI
Encke, Viatrix, Hydor
Whimsical Blue rolled 2 10-sided dice:
6, 10Total: 16 (2-20)
Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2025 1:36 pm
Deep Space Sailor Cernunnos Location: C6 Action: Cowering, sending magic to Asmodeus Total:6 -> buff to Asmodeus HP: 56 - 38 (prompt) (shielded, no extra damage) = 18
Oh, everything hurt... the electricity zapped through him with a painful jolt. He could hear the great beast, somewhere above him, moving... glass breaking as it broke free. He didn't have the heart to look up and watch, not when he was already shaking all over with pain and fear. He could see bolts of lighning lancing through the shield around them to strike the surrounding areas, but while he heard a crackle nearby, he was not looking to see the shield above him deflecting one that would have struck him.
"Asmodeus..." He gasped out, stretching a hand towards her. "Be free..." Cernunnos commanded her again as he called up the last bits of his magic, letting it loose. It was... pathetically weak. Barely one drop of water in the ocean. But maybe, maybe it would help someone...
Sailor Scout Attack: Be Free.
Cernunnos reaches towards those around him and commands them to 'Be Free'. This AoE can affect anyone within ten feet of them, and lasts roughly 15 seconds. Their mind is immediately released from all mental/emotional/behavioral restraints to allow them to act and think freely. This will affect different characters differently, depending on their basic nature. In effect, they are unrestrained from societal expectations, biases, prejudices, shame, fear, anger, and/or responsibility/duty (at player discretion), to think clearly without the interference of outside forces/emotions. This may result in confusion, sudden decision paralysis, or just no longer having a reason to attack/fight as they are released from whatever was driving them. This may not stop people from fighting, even though they are no longer bound to their reason for doing so, if it's simply part of their inherent nature. He can use this up to three times.
Name and Rank:Half-Youma General Wolframite Location: G3 Action: Talkin Total: n/A HP: 110 HP ====================================================
The Half-Youma General paid the silence no mind, instead staring to walk around them as he regarded their outfits.
"A bit cold. And here we are all here for the combined carnage. You can relax. If I'm going to go after anyone, the knights aren't my first choice. Much more interesting players on the field."
He continued to move, regarding the colors and racking his jumbled memories for factions and familiar knights from a now guilty past. There had been some knights he had met before, back in the days of Gevaudan, but their were many colors that encompassed the rainbow of senshi servitude and knighthood. It was often hard to remember what banner they all collected under.
"So what do we have clustered. Earth, clearly." He said, pointing out the woodland tones of Ablach. "Remembered that from Camelot. Which..." He paused, looking up with perked ears as he tried to see if he could spot such a figure in the mass of people on the field. It was hard to tell in the throng of energy signatures, but he couldn't spot him. "Hmm."
His attention returned to the group. "The blues though. Giving Castor vibes a bit." And again, he glanced out. No Castor either. Frowning, he was left unsure as he tried to remember the multitude of factions within the knighthood. "Little rusty. Been ages since I've been at a meeting."
He continued around the circle, moving to spot a senshi.
"And the pink ones. Definitely not Ganymede. Not enough hearts." He tapped the tip of one of his monstrous claws against his chin. "Not rainbowy enough to be Cosmos. What group. What group. Venus?" He tried, thinking it over. A little monotone for Venus though.
And then there was the senshi tucked among them, and he moved closer. "Hello. Don't recall us meeting before. Enjoying the lightshow?" He said, gesturing the shattering sky and multitude of lightening strikes arching around them.
** Among the link, a message was sent to Laven. A thought was relayed back. Safe. Sound. Among Knights. All was well.
Quote:
Hi Knights. Wolfy here.
Shiningamisgirl
Super Corrupt Cryolite
staripop
Nectaris, Knight of the Moon
Amasis
Emain Ablach, Knight of Earth & Amoris, Page of the Moon and Imhotep, squire of Mercury
