Shortly after returning to Mot's side, another friend approached them--one that caused a feeling of guilt to well up in Xiu's chest once more. "Junko!" There was a pause, and she reached out to take the other ghoul's head, abruptly bowing her head. Although she herself had told Yin not long ago that he should not apologize for something that was out of control, the baku could definitely understand the distress that he had probably been feeling.
"About what happened...I'm really, really sorry! If I had had any semblance of consciousness at the time, I promise you that I would have stopped myself, but..." She trailed off, lifting her head and sighing, "I just...sorry. I really didn't mean to hurt you."
When Mitsu and Shun arrived to join their group, Xiu smiled, slowly lowering Junko's hand and sliding hers free. "Of course we don't mind. Are you two still okay? And--"
She cut herself off, gaze flickering towards the creature as she noticed the runes dimming with each strike from the hunters. Frowning, she turned to look at Shun, certain that he had picked up on the rune thing by this point. "I know that it's not guaranteed that feeding it--her?--FEAR will do any good, aniki, but..."
And then Xiu excused herself briefly to move up and strike out at the creature again.
Hunter Damage: 534 Halloween Damage: 569
(( Stats: ))
Name: Xiuying HP: 48/50 FEAR Strength: 100% Insanity Strength: 5% Items: 2 Pumpkin Pills RP Blurb:5'2" baku ghoul
Bix was still trembling on his hands and knees, struggling in the aftershocks of the feeling of being ripped apart. He knew that physically he was fine but he didn't feel fine. For the moment he would stay. He couldn't gather his wits enough to fire.
Hunter Damage: 534 Halloween Damage: 569
Stats:
Name: Bix HP: 42 / 60 FEAR Strength: 90% Insanity Strength: 15% Items: Runic Bandages x 1 (qualified), Horsemen Vial x 1 (found) RP Blurb:Here
She didn't let up. She let out a yell, and hit the beast again.
the weapon was rather pleased.
Sherry was feeling rather satisfied.
Hunter Damage: 542 Halloween Damage: 569
Stats:
Name: Sherry Greyson HP: 35/40 FEAR Strength: 95% Insanity Strength: 35% Items: -- RP Blurb: Shortish light brown hair, mid-height (5'6"). Life trainee with a long coat, tattered and bloodstained at this point. Bandages on her left arm.
Attack: 2/3 Target: Boss Damage: 8
Posted: Fri Oct 19, 2012 5:21 pm
Ally regained, rear covered. Billy nodded to Clyde. He assumed the sheer volume of stuff going on was the cause for getting separated and left it at that. He did resolve to keep a closer eye on the varcolac though, he seemed to disappear if he looked away for a second.
Billy checked himself over one more time. "Yeah it's cool, I'm fine, miraculously."
"Leaving already?" A cold hand, grey, sickly now, clung to her skirt. Hollow eyes stared back at her. Yellow. Pale. The ocean had dimmed, nothing more than a horizon of endless fog, and beyond that sheer cliffs of jagged black. Everything was ominous.
"Are you leaving us now?" The skeletal figure repeated, hair falling off of its scalp in clusters, a thousand centipedes that scurried away. The loom, the tapestry bled a curdling, deep red as one decaying hand reached towards her. "I thought you needed a home. I thought-"
"No."
Everything shattered, the illusion replaced by another, the dream lately of Insanity. In front of her, the same behemoth she had encountered again and again, each and every path. The one figure that she confronted each and every time only to be devoured.
Above her, the unnatural visage, as horrible as each and every of her other Trances: the sleeping giant, fragmented, incomplete, unnatural. Where the students saw something else, where they called her something it had once perhaps been, all she saw were the voices of those memories. Something stirred within it, crying for her attention, and for a second, though Red did not turn around to look at her, a part of her did, a thick plume of grey that divided into a thousand other branches of murky grey-black, all crying out.
Free us. Free us. Free us.
And like each and every of her Trances, she was at the pivotal point of choice. The path to walk away was still there, was still now. This had been the only path that ensured her own survival. Her fingers ached, already blackened and decaying faster now, against the fog, as she pulled out a single artifact. A shattered mirror.
The reflection on the other end was odd, discoloured. Distorted. The melange of whites, oranges, blues, blacks, held up one hand, beckoning her. 'We could go home. You could forget about this, about everything. You could truly, completely, leave everything behind, abandon this facade, and go to where you desire, and only yourself.'
The smile to the reflection itself was a little sad. "Maybe." She stroked the gilded gold frame lightly, inane almost, how fondly she stared into the artifact. "Yet all paths lead to the same end."
If the mirror could sigh it might as well have. ' Very well. If it is assistance you require, bear in mind the price at the end.' The mirror flared, once, twice, and then enveloped everything in a bubble of colour that bled from each and every crack on the ground first.
All around them, the greys began to shift, painfully slow, then transforming all at once into a kaleidoscope of colours, primarily distorted oranges and greens, curling and seeping branch by branch forward, straight towards the leviathan. It picked up speed, as the branches quickly joined together, now simply glimmering pure white, a single line of power that plunged foward-
- Right into the heart of the beast.
Silence.
Then a long, echoing scream, hollow shouts and pleas from every direction as the Insanity, the web that was the Ancient became undone. Everything was forcefully pushed back, even the cliffs threatened to ripple and collapse entirely, the ground falling from the pressure as the entity unraveled, greys spewing every direction, some immediately dissolving into fog while others dribbled from the wound Medea's attack had caused, large oozing blobs of black that formed half-shaped arms, legs, eyes, that groaned, learning forwards before collapsing into skeletal piles.
Yet the greatest plume of grey that burst from once-Red was one that sang to the core of every and each horsemen. They cried in voices all too familiar and spoke of an island that each and everyone horsemen remembered. Slowly, the cries turned into a low keen, once-bright fabrics and memories of lives distorting and warping, bending together until-
- The last fragments of the phoenix, the last decaying bits, the Insanity of the Four Clans took flight, tearing itself apart only to reform in a relentless cycle as it searched for home.
Only the thick, ever-present fog remained where the colossus had stood before. Even the voices in the minds of those afflicted with Insanity were hushed, silent.
And yet even as a Phoenix crafted out of Insanity and memories took flight, both the Students and Hunters would find that they too did not escape unscathed.
Something moved from within the fog.
The OOC
Round 4 has begun!
- The boss can no longer be targeted! - Your targets will make themselves known. Watch out for them! There are currently four in all. - aka YOU WILL NEED TO WAIT FOR THE NEXT BOSSES TO APPEAR before attacking. You are free to make non attacking reaction posts though! - When you target them, BE SURE TO STATE YOUR TARGET OUTSIDE THE SPOILER BOX. - Attacks have been reset!
- ROLL YOUR ATTACK DICE AND EDIT IN THE TOTALS ASAP. - Your character may attack three times, be a Boss or another player.
If you hit 0 HP: -- Halloween:
You feel yourself begin to stiffen... You don't feel so well. You hang back towards the safety of the wall. You can still watch, but you can't attack or be attacked. You cannot be healed. Be sure to note it somewhere in your post so an opponent doesn't waste their time trying to attack you!
-- Hunter:
Your weapon warns you that your Fear shield is about to wear out! You duck back to safety and hope Caelius doesn't see you. For some reason, runic bandages aren't working either... You can watch, but you can't attack or be attacked. Be sure to note it somewhere in your post so an opponent doesn't waste their time trying to attack you!
If you hit 100% Insanity: -- Halloween:
You do become an Insanity Boss Mob, however you cannot benefit from NPC buffs!
- USE THIS WHEN YOU POST:
*** RP GOES HERE ***
[b][color=red]Target:[/color][/b] TARGETNAMEHERE [b][color=red]Target HP:[/color][/b] TARGET HP HERE
[b]Stats:[/b][spoiler] [b]Name:[/b] [b]HP:[/b] [b]FEAR Strength:[/b] 100% [b]Insanity Strength:[/b] 0% [b]Items:[/b] [b]RP Blurb:[/b] Quick RP blub as to what you look like~ [/spoiler]
The beast screamed. Fog swirled, thing rumbled, and for Sherry, at least, confusion ensued. So much, so fast, she only hoped this was not some kind of attack.
As the rumbling ceased and things began to quiet, Sherry stepped back, eying the fog. Was it over? Could they relax?
Even the voices in her head were quiet. That was a good sign, right?
Target: -- Target HP: --
Stats:
Name: Sherry Greyson HP: 35/40 FEAR Strength: 95% Insanity Strength: 35% Items: -- RP Blurb: Shortish light brown hair, mid-height (5'6"). Life trainee with a long coat, tattered and bloodstained at this point. Bandages on her left arm.
Attack Used: 0/3 Target: -- Damage: --
Posted: Fri Oct 19, 2012 6:01 pm
He heard a familiar voice, and turned around to see... Sherry. Dammit it all, why couldn't he CATCH A FREAKING BREAK?
"Nice to see YOU'RE not dead yet." he muttered. He was about to say something else, when a piercing scream cut through the air, making him cringe. Just what in the world...
The beast was no more. Destroyed? Dissipated? He didn't know. What he DIDN'T expect to see was another creature rising up from it. A... phoenix?
Jake gripped the tonfas tightly. You don't have to tell ME twice..
This wasn't over yet. Not by a long shot.
Target: --- Target HP: ---
Stats:
Name: Jake Cross Faction: Hunter - Death Trainee HP: 28/40 FEAR Strength: 75% Insanity Strength: 0% Items: N/A RP Blurb:Here. Wears a sleeveless hunter coat with the death division symbol on the back. Bandages wrapped around his torso. Wields bladed tonfas. Currently not in a very good mood.
GrnGriff
[A.V.]
Dangerous Hunter
Offline
demon_pachabel
Beloved Werewolf
Offline
Posted: Fri Oct 19, 2012 6:02 pm
"So, this is what you do now."
The ghost's voice was quiet, inaudible over the noise of the chaos of students, horsemen and hunters around here and the healer stepped out into the mess, fading in an out of existence - or perhaps just view - as she walked towards the giant looming creature that stood to destroy everything. Perhaps it was her way of trying to save everybody still being corrupted. Part of Cricket wanted to reach out and touch the mass, pondering to herself if somehow now there was some way for her to fix it now.
But she knew better than that, pulling away with a flinch and a look of pain as Red was suddenly shattered by the wishes and turning into nothing more than vague shapes and references to her former state of being.
"It seems that this is better suited for someone still among us now." Cricket frowned as the glowing pulse of her markings grew to an almost blinding brightness - FEAR, seeking out a proper and empty vessel to bring back to life. Best to take it up while there was a calm for them to come back to and perhaps gather themselves with.
RESURRECTION BUFF! First Halloween Student at 0 HP to claim this buff gets it! Cricket's restorative FEAR brings you back from the brink of death - but just barely. You are revived to 10HP.
Even if you hit 0 HP after this post, Cricket's FEAR is still lingering to bring you back!
If claiming please post this code
[quote="demon_pachabel"]Oops I tanked, but Healer Cricket brought me back! biggrin[/quote]
Posted: Fri Oct 19, 2012 6:08 pm
The beast! It was gone now! Though, Deryk wasn't exactly happy to see that phoenix. Nope. It didn't linger though. In any case, he wasn't too worried about that. Letting out a breath, he thought it might be over. Even the voices had died down.
Well.
That was until he saw something moving in the fog.
Was it just one of the others? He really. Really hoped that was the case.
Target: TARGETNAMEHERE Target HP: TARGET HP HERE Stats:
Name: Deryk Bond HP: 35 FEAR Strength: 90% Insanity Strength: 40% TARGET: Damage: Charge: 3/3 Items: 2 bandages RP Blurb: Death trainee with a hidden blade. Missing one finger.
Blade Kuroda
Militant Raider
Offline
Pepzilla
Greedy Capitalist
Offline
Posted: Fri Oct 19, 2012 6:18 pm
Bul wasn't surprised, in awe, or anything. In fact he made no distinctive change in demeanor. If the professors (namely Cricket) were still here and very well prepared for battle, and you know, if the whole history of events had anything to say...
Bul was weary. Very very weary and for some reason very tired. He reached up and pressed his hand to his head. It was aching more than his tail on a cold frosty day. This waiting.. waiting for the dream to be over, for the sudden unifying trumpet to sound, for the one who would boast his or her power in saving them from this particular fate... it was agonizing.
Stats:
Name: Bul HP: 48/50 FEAR Strength: 85% Insanity Strength: 45%
Posted: Fri Oct 19, 2012 6:37 pm
Sherry eyed the fog, turning cautiously. She spotted Jake, and stepped closer to him. "Was that concern I heard? Thanks," Her voice was tainted with a hint of sarcasm. Something told her he had meant it as a snarky comment, but she didn't care about that. She was far less angry, a strange calm settling over her. Though if that was because she'd let a bit of rage out, or because the beast was gone, she wasn't sure.
What she did know, though, was that now was a time to be alert. The beast might have been gone, but there were still there, surrounded by the fog. It was unsettling to watch the stuff. The way it moved was unnatural, and Sherry knew it could be hiding anything.
"Stay ready," she said to Jake, her eyes searching the fog. "Things could be over, but you never know."
Target: -- Target HP: --
Stats:
Name: Sherry Greyson HP: 35/40 FEAR Strength: 95% Insanity Strength: 35% Items: -- RP Blurb: Shortish light brown hair, mid-height (5'6"). Life trainee with a long coat, tattered and bloodstained at this point. Bandages on her left arm.
Attack Used: 0/3 Target: -- Damage: --
[A.V.]
Grifferie
Crew
Deus Sherry
Offline
Rown
Friendly Hunter
Offline
Posted: Fri Oct 19, 2012 6:37 pm
This was bad, this was very bad bad, and Ofelia could only listen as the voices went silent. It was just as terrifying as the times back home, when the calls from the barn would grow quiet upon her approach, and now part of the teen wondered if the noise would grow again.
There were creatures in the shadows, ever moving, and she pushed herself to her feet. She needed to get to the others, something was wrong.
He only shrugged. "Take it as you will. I really don't care." He had gotten rid of most of his frustration from those attacks, and...well, to be honest, he was kind of used to seeing Sherry now. At least it was a LOT better than sticking with that previous group...
The thought only made him tense up again.
"I KNOW that." he responded to her concern, exasperated. When were things ever "just over?"
Target: --- Target HP: ---
Stats:
Name: Jake Cross Faction: Hunter - Death Trainee HP: 28/40 FEAR Strength: 75% Insanity Strength: 0% Items: N/A RP Blurb:Here. Wears a sleeveless hunter coat with the death division symbol on the back. Bandages wrapped around his torso. Wields bladed tonfas.
GrnGriff
[A.V.]
Dangerous Hunter
Offline
kuropeco
Dramatic Marshmallow
Offline
Posted: Fri Oct 19, 2012 7:18 pm
"You're not fine," said Gale quietly, and his fingers, which were trembling slightly, curled around Eva's, gripping them tightly. "But right now you're all right, okay? You're not dying, you're okay, you're still here."
The words were said to reassure her, but a part of him needed to hear himself say it too, especially with the chaos rippling around him and the fog and then the unnerving quiet. Gale swallowed hard, then gently squeezed her fingers before letting his hand drop away.
"Go find people," he said, and in spite of the fact that he did not want to let her go, he knew she was worried about her friends. "Go make sure they're all right. I'll stay here with Marcus, we'll be all right."
![[A.V.]'s avatar](https://a1cdn.gaiaonline.com/dress-up/avatar/ava/8d/f2/221070ca3ff28d_flip.png?t=1546143856_6.00_11&pl=15)
