[ ORP ] One Message Unread (CONCLUSION + SUMMARY P 23!)

[kuropeco]

"We will find her," said Ren, and his fingers tightened a little on Roch's shoulder, the smirk on his face one of fierce determination. Though he couldn't share the terror Roch must have, knowing his ghoulfriend was trapped with them, Ren could at least understand the gravity of the situation. These were his friends too, after all, and he could only imagine what it would be like if it were LW or Jove that had been snatched from his grasp...

"Don't worry," Ren said again forcefully, and his wings fluttered against his back, settling neatly on his shoulder blades. "We'll find her, and Amrita, and the others, and we will bring them back safe and sound, and you can go back to hearing all of those 'amazings' and 'impressives' and requests for songs again."

Ice Queen

 

[Zoobey]

The flames roared as the students stepped through, though there was no pain. Simply a moment where everything felt clearer, more focused. As if they could close their eyes and sense the Fear of everything, the presence of their allies, even the Head Priestess's own Fear, a tangible sphere that seemed to ebb and flow steadily, in synchronization with the flames.

She whispered to the fire now - it flared for a second a brilliant white - arching upwards at one end, until it formed a large frame. "Children." She called to it now, the portal, whatever lay inside the portal. "My children, those who walk our path. We have been called, together, to create the beginning of a new path. Will you walk with me now, you call yourself the Lost Clans to one day rise as something greater?"

And from the portal they stepped in, one by one, not an army but simply fragments, mere remaining shadows of proud lands, most still dressed as they once were as a symbol of pride and remembrance. The horsemen, the Lost Clans. They joined the students now, together, silently, waiting. It wouldn't be long now before they got their revenge, this was the promise they wanted, that they needed.

The lightest of nods, and Medea picked up her robes, daintily, making tiny steps down into the stairs, the corridor, provided by the trap door in the center. The corridor down was a short descent. Most would step in something that seemed like water, knee-deep, neither cold nor warm, simply opaque, a deep black that nullified the outline of the cavern. There was a single light source in the distance, bathing everything a soft blue:

And yet, instead of walking towards the flickering source, Medea once again held up one hand. "A warning. They do not take kindly to visitors, please, let me negotiate." The water sloshed, lazily, as she took several steps forward, unafraid.

For a while nothing happened. They simply all stood in silence. And then, the waters themselves heaved, seemingly warping, transforming into a liquid-black shape in front of the Head Priestess. It had no colour nor light itself, outline visible only through the light source behind it: a behemoth of a skeletal structure that easily touched the cave. From around the students, under the water, they could feel something, chill and solid, something scurrying under their feet, grabbing at their ankles in a strange vice-like grip.

For a while longer there was only an exchange of silence. The sensation continued, more and more solid, perhaps skeletal hands snapping at the students, climbing up their ankles, legs, up to their sides, their backs perhaps - invisible hands that -

- The waters roared and then simply stilled. The creature was gone, sliding into the water with a single hiss, the sensation of drowning, of being captive disappearing as well.

'Revenge'.

Without another word herself, Medea stepped up into the dais, taking a second to stare reverently at the odd fountain, the monument that resonated slightly as she hesitantly touched it, and then grasped her fingers into. Her face, figure, her entire appearance was bathed in the strong bight-blue glow. "Many travelers before out time sought out the properties of the Lake, the very same one that the Hunters tried to keep for themselves. This is all that remains of a great legacy. There are rumours of course. That water from the Lake can cure any ailment. That it can mend any broken Fear. That it is power. But the greatest power of course, for us, for our path, is-"

And then she pulled out a familiar object, one that a couple of students would recognize almost immediately, dipping it into the fountain.

It was handed over to the closest figure. "Pass it around. Just one sip is enough. It will grant you immunity, that is all, and that is its greatest secret."

OOC

exclaim - IF YOU HAVE NOT POSTED A POST THAT IS FINE, please read the gm post in page 11 first and just assume your student was there to cross the flames! All you need to know up to this point is that there is a rumour that students went missing, and Medea has promised that they will find and save them.
- The water in the chalice: As Medea said, the chalice should be passed around. Simply RP your character taking it from whomever posts before you and then drinking exactly one sip. It may be tempting to throw it away, or take another sip, but you feel odd, as if this is a strange ritual. As if something else is watching you. As if those strange skeletal hands from under the water might pull you down or leave you here permanently if you disobey.
- Due to the high volume of RPERS please quote who you are targeting/ talking to AND POST an OOC BLURB of what your character looks like/ what their name!

ALL HORSEMEN:

- You have been waiting for this day since Medea first called you. As she summons you from the Lost Clans, from your sleep perhaps, from your idle lounging in the middle of the night, you are ready regardless. You walk through the portal, a glowing beacon in the center of the Lost Clans. It will be soon now.

ALL STUDENTS:

- You notice as you pass through the flames, something tattooed on a piece of your form, for some more notable than others in location:

It burns lightly, though simply warm not painful. Perhaps it marks you as something else, as what Medea mentioned. Part of something together.

 

[Molten Tigrex]

The closest figure closed his claws around the goblet, immediately raised it to frosted lips and a dry tongue bloated by death and disuse.

The fire had very nearly stopped him. It struck a chord in Aymet that was present in all undead. A half-irrational fear that paralyzed him down to the hollow of his bones, impossible to ignore. He couldn't close his eyes, the lids wouldn't move, the sockets stared unblinkingly. He had to repeat something, a thought in his mind, a reason to ignore the fire just long enough to immolate himself.

Amrita.

He stepped into it and - nothing. To be perfectly honest he wasn't sure what he had expected from fire except a grisly end. As if on some victorious high, he could almost sense the fear around them, each of them, beyond them-?

He passed glances. Between the horsemen that settled into their circle. The allies that he knew and recognized and was glad for - Aleria, Shun, Mort, Shine, Freya, and more, so many more. And the priestess of death who cleaved her way through the dangers of the murky water and narrowly prevented them all from being dragged down to a murky, watery grave.

In the present, There was only half of a moment, not of hesitation but wonder. And desire, for the power that they could only imagine, all the secrets that were hidden from them, the power that could turn the tide on their enemies. Enough for them all, enough to save Amrita and the others, he had to believe. But he would do it all for her, above anyone else he could think of. Temporary allegiance would be a small price to pay. Medea herself had revealed those futures, damned her own kind in the process, and it was for that reason he trusted her alone above all other horsemen not to mislead them.

The water passed through the cracks in his lips, his tongue, through every bone, and left a strange feeling of magic prickling through his skeleton.

APPEARANCE

Aymet looks like this. Skeleton dragon, blue glowy s**t, armor.

 

[Ravvlet]

Arcadia leaped through the fire after some of the other students, an oddly feral snarl on her lips. She hadn't really paid attention to what was said but - there would be fighting, probably, and there was a cup full of some kind of food-drink and...

Her tail swished impatiently, nearly stabbing a few people on accident as another boil got to the stuff before her. She settled for staring at the apparent horsewoman instead, uncharacteristically silent. Something itched on her forearm, and she scratched it idly, before glancing down to see the strange mark on her own flesh. "It's red," she whispered to no one in particular. Cady waited her turn, glancing around at the others. The ceremony sort of reminded her of her own people, when they weren't being rambunctious, or when she wasn't issuing an endless stream of questions.

It reminded her of home.

When the cup was finally passed, she took a gulp. She didn't even try to eat it- obviously there was witchcraft afoot.

cady

arcadia is a lady manticore, with a scorpion stinger tipped tail, orangeish skin, bright red hair and yellow staring eyes. She has two horns curling back behind lion ears, and a pair of brown-feathered wings.

 

[its me debz]

Aleria had followed the crowd. For being a tall, spindly demon, they could be especially quiet if they so desired.

So they had followed, from the locker rooms down into the cave, where cyan and shadows met in a clash.

The demon did not know the woman who was speaking, nor did she trust her. A stranger, after a strange dream the night prior? Talk of belonging?

How silly. Aleria had been raised in a group, with ten others their age as they grew and learn and aged. The heavy weight of their vines, however, reminded Aleria that they had left, and willingly so.

Ecstatically so.

So Aleria followed Aymet, and drew a shallow sip from the chalice. They did not notice, but at the hollow of their throat, a whorl appeared, pressed into their skin like a stamp.

Perhaps it was poison, perhaps it was a potion of some sort meant to bind.

But curiosity did always kill the cat; and while the arctic demon was not a feline, they were insatiably, undeniably, and absolutely...curious.  

[Nio Love]

Freya didn't need to be told twice.

She hadn't said a word since they'd gotten here, but she looked absolutely thrilled at the prospect, and there wasn't a single shred of doubt in her mind.

This was a step forward. That was all that mattered.

She bounded forward and drank deep from the cup, passing it on to the next person with the brightest of smiles. There was no hesitation in her face, like there might have been on others.

She was sure about this.

The tramp stamp totally burned into the small of her back, as tramp stamps are wont to do.  

[Yayoi]

Since stepping through the flames the Jiang Shi had been silent. Still calming herself from the horrible paranoia that the flames would burn her. She listened and watched quietly. Her small body tingled as she listened to Medea's words, her call for her fellow Clansmen. Would a certain Horsewoman be among those to come forward?

A tiny bit of hope sparked in the back of her mind.

But now was not the time to think of such things. She had more important things to consider and her friend's to support. And students to free.

Taking the cup from the unfamiliar boil, she took a sip and passed it on. A small burning sensation took hold of the flesh on her thigh. There a small symbol seemed to appear on her skin. "Really hope that isn't permanent..." Licking her thumb she rubbed at it for a couple seconds. But to no avail it didn't come off.  

[Bittiface]

And then they were gone. All his friends. Everyone he knew. They were all braver. They all knew exactly what they wanted and were willing to do anything at all to do it.

Mot heaved a pained sigh and turned, leaving the locker room. Leaving the office. Left the school.  

[Ice Queen]

Fai hadn't been sleeping. He'd been lounging on Sal's precious rock, sipping a cup of wild berry wine and staring at the moon. But when he was summoned he went, only reminding himself to come back for his drink later. And as he was handed the cup he took a sip, passing it to the purple haired boil without a word. Ahh, the tattoo meant that he belonged to them, didn't it? He planned on taking advantage of that sometime, he decided.

Roch took the cup, looking into it for a long moment before sipping. The symbol had appeared on his left shoulder, branding him. He would probably regret this act later, he figured, but not as much as he would have regretted walking away.  

[chiickadee]

Danny took the cup from Roch's hand and stared at it. She didn't ... this wasn't ... how did she ...?

"Roch how do you ..." Wait no. Then she'd look dumb. SHE DIDN'T WANT TO LOOK DUMB. She grabbed Roch's arm- more for support in case she collapsed or something than anything else- and tipped the cup back.

A bright shiny new mark appeared on her right shoulder, and she passed the cup quickly. Bluhhh. Danny felt like she was going to be sick...  

[Bilious]

Christof closed his eyes as the fire spread over him. It was odd... normally he would be engulfed immediately, but it flickered like a warm illusion. His goal was set. He quietly moved after Calder, spotting the Kelpie easily before placing a hand gently on his shoulder.

They would get Amrita back. He had to get Amrita back. The Hunters had taken his Mistress from him, he wouldn't allow...

His stomach clenched as the chalice made it's way towards him, and after a moment's hesitation, he pulled his syringe from his pocket, filling it with just a sip's worth from the cup before pushing it between his stitched lips.

Amrita... how had... Don't dwell on it. She was stronger than she seemed. He had faith she wouldn't do anything stupid. And he would be there. He knew as far as boilfriends went he was.... neglectful. Possessive. But he... he loved her. It had taken years to come to terms with it, but there was no denying it. If he lost her...

There was an odd warm feeling on his palm, and he turned his more human hand over, the same hand that bore Barth's mark up the arm- a strange spiral. Another mark? Was Madea a new Master?

No more Masters.

His eyes caught sight of Lizzy, his breathing deepening as he tried to get her attention with a soft wave.

Together. They would do this.

And destroy any humans that stood in their way.

Moon Kitsune

Dragain

Enoh Love

if you're stalking :V <33

 

[revenant aria]

"Xiu, if you're going, I'm going. Anything to convince those hunters that--" His speech was abruptly cut off, with Xiu never hearing what Vaith would say. He turned around to give a high-five towards Ren, although there was a tiny bit of concern as to whether this was the last time they might see each other again. Each time seemed to get just a little closer ..

Well, Vaith left a note for Mai in the room. A vague note, since, he didn't want Mai here either. Feeling something irritably warm on his neck, Vaith's hands rubbed over the area, as if to shoo away a bug or something. But instead, he felt the slight indent .. of a mark?

Great, tattoos were cool. Especially ones that you know, happened to crop up spontaneously. Still cool.

Vaith wasn't sure he wanted to drink the cup going around though.

"I'll drink if you drink." Vaith told Xiu, one hand holding the small vial in his pocket. Hm. Was it the same water?

Quote:

Vaith; Noise Reaper

kaiyumi

kuromeez

 

[kuropeco]

Ren gave Vaith a Look.

"Don't be so melancholy," he said, and swiped the goblet from the reaper, trying to ignore the horrible sense of foreboding twisting in his own stomach. He took a swallow of the liquid and wiped his mouth, frowning a bit.

"We'll be just fine."

The more he told himself that, the more he would believe it...right?



[ HP: 50/50
Target: N/A.
Damage: N/A. ]

Random Artist

 

[bipolar bee]

Nomiki took a sip of the water and passed it on, eyes bright as she waited for the next turn of events.

Quote:

War horsewoman. Dark skin, pale hair, bright orange eyes, wings.