Once Stibnite had made her way to the top of the Ravine, Iudicael had started to fidget and whine. This was unusual for the youma, so Leucite took immediate notice. He was reaching for his communication crystal to order everyone to immediately evacuate, and pressed his hand on the wall of the ravine. The tell-tale tremor that he had felt earlier was... no longer tell-tale. It was a thrum through the walls of the ravine, and if he strained his ears enough, he could make out a low humming sound in the air.
This was not good. His feeling was only cemented by Stibnite's sudden declaration on the communicator crystal and her sliding down the wall of the ravine to inform him of a fact he already knew.
"I'm aware," He said - not in a terse manner, but in that way when someone already knew what needed to be done spoke.
"Everyone, stop gathering and make your way back to the meeting zone, bring what you can with you but do not dawdle. We need to get out of here."
Already, he could see a wall of black rushing toward them down the ravine. But as it grew closer, they began to take shape. A large swarm of youma. Each measured roughly two feet long, and about a foot wide. They flew on black, buzzing wings, their eyes a dull lifeless ruby sheen. Each had a long, sharp pointed needle where a mouth should be. The swarm was bearing down on them, faster than Leucite had anticipated.
Even if everyone moved as fast as they could - they wouldn't be able to make it out in time before the oncoming swarm descended upon them.
"Belay all orders! Look alive, we've got company! I want all of you to make your way to the extraction zone by any means necessary. At this point, crystals be damned. Get your asses in gear!"
Even as he shouted over the now deafening hum of the many wings, Leucite summoned his spear. Iudicael came to his side instantly, and Lecuite pointed to the swarm. "We'll have to hold them off until everyone can get out of the Ravine." He called back to Stibnite.
"How about some target practice?"
And then the swarm descended, black, humming wings diving down to strike at any and all they could see!
Quote:
It looks like youma have found the group! Roll a 1d6 and use the related prompt to write your character's escape from the swarm!
1 - The youma swarm has you surrounded, you're cut of from any other agent! Lashing out with your back of crystals, and pick hammer, you manage to break through the swarm, but you get a hole torn in your bag somehow and lose HALF of the crystals you gather! ( Half your crystal total)
2 - You manage to bob and weave around the worst of the swarm, though you aren't sure where everyone else is in the chaos of the evacuation. However, as you're almost to the extraction point, your foot finds a loose stone and you you stumble. You do manage to keep your grip on your crystals though, but only barely. (No change)
3 - You can see everyone running toward the extraction point, one one of the swarm manages to get a lucky hit and nicks you in the leg, causing you to stumble and fall, losing your bag of crystals. you manage to grab it, but you've lost a QUARTER of what you put in there. (Reduce your crystal total by 1/4)
4 - You've managed to avoid the swarm, they seem to be focused more on everyone else other than you - that is until you trip over someone's discarded pickhammer and you fall flat on your face. You manage to fight off the swarm as it tries to eat you alive, barely keeping a grip on your bag in the process. However, as you get up, you realize that it has a huge rip in it, and you've lost HALF your crystals. (Half your crystal total)
5 - You are harried constantly by the swarm, but you're able to make good work of them with your pickhammer, only to find that this draws more and more of them to you. Suddenly you're surrounded by the swarm, their sharp needles managing to score some good hits. With a few more swings of the pick hammer you manage to break through to the extraction point, but you come to find your pack is a mess of holes, leaving you with only one fourth of the crystals you started with. (Reduce your crystal total by 3/4)
6 - Either by complete luck or divine intervention, you manage to make it through the swarm unscathed and unhindered, able to reach the extraction point without having to deal with any of the youma at all. (No change).
The young lieutenant moved with haste as he heard the urgency in Stibnite's voice. If she was concerned, he knew that things had to be going very wrong. That woman was made of steel.
He reached the mouth of the cave, only to find that there was a wall of youma blocking the way. He cursed near instantly, he readying himself as he ran full tilt through three wall. "I will not be held back by you beasts!"
He darted from side, ducking under those that swooped in to attack him. He flailing a hand up to knock many away as he neared the meeting point. So far so good, he had not lost a single crystal.
He could see the meeting point at this time. He almost there. It was this thought as well as a momentary lack of focus that sent him hurling forward. His foot having caught on a rock, he cursed add he ate the ground Venezuela him.
"Well curse this..." he grumbled and forced himself to right himself, closing that final distance and reading himself for the next order.
[Crystals: 9]
serpentsong
Aged Survivor
Offline
Kyuseisha no Hikari rolled 1 6-sided dice:
2Total: 2 (1-6)
Kyuseisha no Hikari
Crew
Dragonslaying Dragon
Offline
Posted: Thu Dec 01, 2016 11:21 pm
Lopezite emerged from the cave just a few seconds before the swarm became something her seriously had to worry about. It gave him a bit of a headstart, but it was apparent very quickly that he wasn't going to get lucky.
A part of him thought it might have been safer to duck back into the cave and wait out the swarm, but if Leucite wanted them back at the meeting point, he was going to make it there. He didn't know where everyone else was, but that wasn't so surprising; he hadn't known where anyone was for at least an hour now.
He was lucky, he figured; he managed to twist between the youma as they swarmed, clutching the bag full of crystals. The bag made it out in one piece--and so did he.
Mostly.
He couldn't really see his feet in the swarm, so he missed the rock and, bumped by the youma he was racing around, he was nearly sent sprawling.
Lopezite managed to keep his cool though; his heart was pounding but he didn't seem stressed or concerned. The truth was, he was just focusing.
Now seemed like a really bad time to not be paying attention to his surroundings.
6 - Either by complete luck or divine intervention, you manage to make it through the swarm unscathed and unhindered, able to reach the extraction point without having to deal with any of the youma at all. (No change).
The orders from Leucite where what got his attention, and made him curse, picking up the pace and much as he wanted to break into a run... he knew the person with the freaking short legs couldn't keep up.
Not to mention the strange, fly-like, needle-nosed youma swarm hitting them. Hard. Seraphinite grit his teeth and swung back with his pickaxe in one hand, one of his wooden swords in the other. It was not quite as effective as say, having another pickaxe, but he'd take what he could get right now.
Despite his size, he was finding little trouble in keeping the creatures back, immensely grateful for the training sessions with the General thus far.
He made his way back towards where the evacuation point was, and was about to make a break for it when he realized someone else was not handling it as well. Bracing himself, he ditched his wooden sword--which by that point had broken a few times so it wasn't like there was much left--and kept using the pickaxe to beat away the youma. Grabbing Spectrolite by the back of her uniform collar, he dragged her up and started to half-drag, half-direct her towards the evacuation site.
Somehow through all this, he actually managed to keep himself from getting injured or losing the crystals. Freaking miracle.
[Crystals: 29]
-------
Quote:
4 - You've managed to avoid the swarm, they seem to be focused more on everyone else other than you - that is until you trip over someone's discarded pickhammer and you fall flat on your face. You manage to fight off the swarm as it tries to eat you alive, barely keeping a grip on your bag in the process. However, as you get up, you realize that it has a huge rip in it, and you've lost HALF your crystals. (Half your crystal total)
For a while there, she was going fine! Spectrolite was small, and pretty fast despite her shorter legs. Dodging the attacking youma wasn't too difficult, all things considered--even though her heart was in her throat and she thought she was going to die but whatever.
Yeah then she tripped over whoever dropped their pickaxe and down she went with a yelp.
Almost as soon as she was down--with more cuts now on both knees and now the palms of her hands, great!--she was getting attacked by the youma. Not fair! She'd just been saying how cool they were! Well not these kinds, anyways. These ones were just assholes!
Using her pickaxe to swipe and swing at them, and using her bag as a shield, she at least managed to get... kinda up to her knees. But it wasn't going great, and she began to panic. What if she didn't get to the extraction point? Would anyone come from her? Shiiiiit---
Well. Yay. A rough hand yanked her up hard by the back of her uniform, nearly choking her till she got to her feet and managed to--sort of--keep up with the person who'd helped her.
"Thank you!" She shot a grin up at Seraphinite, but he wasn't exactly looking, and then she looked at her bag and felt like she might cry. She'd lost so many! So many crystals, gone. Oh this was so unfair!
She had done her best, or so she thought, at gathering crystals and now they had to run and she felt fear filling her. She knew the General and the Captain with him would do their best to assure they all got out of here safely but she was more at risk, more of a target for the youma. Surely they felt her and knew she was here...and likely didn't appreciate it. She wasn't some sort of paranoid...just aware of her standing with youma..and some officers as well.
She heard the orders over her communications crystal and she could see what was coming - a massive swarm of youma. Fear over taking her, and general common sense, and Valeria was taking off for the extraction point. Her heels hitting the ground and it was a combination of running in heels and a youma cutting into her leg with a claw that sent the corrupted senshi to the ground in a tangled heap of hair and limbs. Grabbing for her bag, before she could lose it, she pulled it close to herself and held tightly as she climbed up to her feet and took off again - needing to get to safety.
The youma that had come after her got too close for comfort, perhaps looking to go another round, likely looking to attack her again. That was when she made the motions, quickly and with a shaking hand, the words whispered she sent her magic toward it. Watching as it was easily avoided she took the opening she had now and ran for the extraction point. Her pack still clutched tightly to her chest, hair a mess, she was panting when she did make it.
(Crystals: 13)
Torvil
Posted: Mon Dec 05, 2016 9:07 pm
She had watched them all once again appear from the caves. One by one each moved back towards them. One by one each faced a youma. Some managed to escape with grace. Others needed to learn to walk.
But none of that mattered.
What mattered now was keeping them all alive long enough to get out of here. Eyes turned back to Leucite and she nodded. "Get them out of here...alive."
And with that, she was off, head first into the swarm. This was what Stibnite lived for. She had felt like a caged bird for far too long between her jobs in both worlds. Now, for a moment as she smashed her elbow into the side of what would be their head, sending it smashing with its needle jaw into the one next to it, Stibnite was in her element.
"GO!" She screamed back out to Leucite, ducking the jab of one of the youma knowing well he would let her have it later. That split second distraction though was enough for one to throw her down with the current from its wings.
It was perhaps, because Stibnite was who she was that Leucite did not immediately call her to heel. There was also the factor of her weapon being effective against the flying creatures - though it would be difficult to miss them for how they blackened what amounted for a sky in the Rift. All the same, Leucite knew he would have to have words with her later if only to keep up appearances. But that was an thought left for another time.
As each of the members of the Training Corps ran past him and up the ramp, he did a quick headcount to make sure that everyone was okay. "Run!" He ordered, motioning up the ramp of the ravine. "Don't stop running until you reach the Hall!"
His initial job done, he began to wade forward into the swarm, spear flashing with a speed that would be hard to catch if not for the enhancements powered form gave. But even the General did not escape the swarm unscathed, his coat quickly being torn to tatters, and the occasional nick and scrape marking his form.
By the time he reached Stibnite's location, he gave her a single look. A look he knew she would understand.
Then the tremors began again, shaking the ravine once more. The swarm stopped in its frenzy, and quickly darted back down the Ravine. The realization as to why hit Luecite a moment later, and he was already pushing Stibnite toward the ramp out of the Ravine.
"RUN! Just RUN!"
The creature that stood between the walls of the ravine looked like something plucked straight from nightmare. It's body was bulky and covered in patches of mangy, straw like hair, it's head was an almost reptillian shape, save for the insect like compound eyes of ruby red, and the large, almost spear like mandibles. All along it's body, on patches of thick, leathery hide, were large stone like boils with many, many holes and hollows. It was to these boils that the swarm new flew, taking roost as their companion had finally arrived to eat its fill.
It took one look at the group of negaverse officers in the ravine, and fleeing it.
It lowered it's head, and on too many legs - moving faster than a creature that size could.
It charged.
Quote:
Run. Or maybe... Fight?
The large Feral Hive has called back its swarm, and now the General and Captain are in danger of being trampled - or worse! Do you obey the orders of your General and flee for your lives? Or do you disobey orders and fight, in the hopes of saving your commanding officers!
The choice is yours...
Fight! - Roll a 1d10.
1-4: Your attacks don't really seem to be phasing the Hive any. If anything it looks... annoyed?
5-9: Your attacks seem to be doing some damage to the beast, it is at least turning it's attention away from the General and Captain and toward you... But you're not sure that's a good thing!
10: A critical hit! That looked like it HURT! You'll definitely get the youma's attention now!
Flee! - Roll a 1d10.
1-4: You manage to make some headway, but the path is a lot rockier than you remember, and just as you get a good sprint going your foot finds just the right rock to land you flat on your face. You might have skid... That's going to leave a mark.
5-9: You're able to keep your footing and make good headway toward the Hall. Maybe you can find some help for the General and Captain on the other side? You don't know, but an order's an order.
10: The words, running like the wind have nothing on you. You're already amazing speed is made all the faster by that sudden rush of "I WANT TO LIVE!" That kicks in as you flee for your life. It's almost no time at all and you can already see the outline of the hall in sight!
Seraphinite wasn't good at taking orders. Never had been, likely never would be. Particularly when the orders included any concept around, or words similar to, if not the exact words of, run away.
But in this case, he had an extra step in his reasoning. Instead of booking it towards the Hall, he left his bag of crystals and his boots pounded the rocks back down towards the charging youma that all the freaking bugs ran and hide in. Wooden swords would do jackshit against a behemoth like that, and he wasn't about to assume otherwise, but he figured if he could at least tug the massive creature's attention away from the far more capable General and Captain, then their weapons could be of actual use against it.
Wasn't difficult to find a large rock he was able to lift up and hurl at the creature. That he managed to hit his target was a bit more of a surprise--he was a close-quarters combatant for a reason, but he wasn't about to make objections.
Especially when the creature did seem to take notice of the hit. Pros and cons here.
----
She usually had a much better sense of self-preservation, that's what sort of made this a tad odd for her. The General said run, and really, she had no reason not to run.
Towards the Hall.
But instead her feet were leading her back towards the giant youma that looked really weird and really cool but not when it was about to make toe jam out of your superior officers.
Spectrolite was far from strong. The tiny rocks she picked up to fling and try and distract the creature were probably little more than tickling the damn thing, but uh, well it. It was apparently working.
Which made her feel far less safe considering she had a plastic toy for a weapon.
It was only as he rose from the ground that he saw leucite take off into the fray. He cursed and looked toward the exit, knowing he should follow the order given, but torn with the need to fight for the general.
It only took him a moment to many up his mind. He grabbing the closest, large, rock and lobbing it, full tilt, in the direction of the large youma. He was very surprised when the rock found home, though that surprise turned to dread as the youma turned its attention in his direction
"Well s**t..." he growled and readied himself for the incoming attack. This was going to hurt.
Kyuseisha no Hikari rolled 1 10-sided dice:
1Total: 1 (1-10)
Posted: Tue Dec 06, 2016 11:24 am
Lopezite - Run (1)
It wasn't that Lopezite couldn't run fast, and it (mostly) wasn't that he wasn't watching where he was going. It was that he didn't feel right about running.
Certainly, when Leucite had told him to run, he did. He figured it was a direct order, and there were so many youma, it didn't seem like fighting was a good option. Hell, Lopezite wasn't even sure if you were supposed to fight youma.
So, being the good soldier that he was, he had taken off running.
He expected to be separated from the group. He just, you know, expected to see any of them. He turned, looking back at where he had last seen the group, and misstepped.
If he hadn't second guessed himself, hadn't gotten distracted, it wouldn't have happened. He fell, jamming an elbow between him and the ground before he totally mutilated his face, but the pain made it hard to even be happy about.
He pushed himself up as quickly as possible, but he was certain he wasn't going to go home feeling proud of himself.
She heard what was going on and had looked back. She saw the General, who was nice to her, and the Captain ready to fight to protect them and make sure they could escape. There was no way they would get away from this unharmed though and she knew it. She also knew she could help, at least a little bit, and that was what made up her mind.
Valeria knew it was reckless and more than a little dangerous to her own health, given she was a corrupted senshi. She more than knew how dangerous it could be doing what she was about to do - but didn't care. She knew what the right thing to do was, and she was going with that.
Turning away from the safety, safety she was sure she could have reached, she took off her heels and took off toward the two. Not having her heels on helped - a lot in running.
Running up to the two she didn't hesitate in bringing her fingers up to her right temple, where a tiara might have been were she in service to the white moon, a dark pink orb of energy forming before she flicked it out toward the youma. "Mind pause." The words weren't shouted, though they weren't whispered either. She really hoped she was close enough to the youma, she didn't want to get any closer than she already was. She stood for a moment, watching to see if it impacted with the youma before turning to the General and Captain.
"As much as we are trained to take orders...I'll have to decline this time. I'm able to help - so I will. I might not have the most powerful magic but it can help...and it's best if we work together...to win so we all make it out of here. A team." She spoke softly, though pink eyes didn't waver, she wasn't budging on this. She was going to help in whatever manner she could and right now she had magic at her disposal.
Torvil
Sirene Naiads
Sailor Scout Attack: Mind pause. Here Valeria places her index and middle finger to her right temple and calls her attack. Flicking her fingers toward her enemy a dark pink ball of light is tossed/flicked at the enemy, the person must be within ten feet of her, and upon hitting them inflicts upon them a sort of absent mindedness. They suddenly can't think or form a thought and are left standing, sitting, or laying right where they are until the magic passes. It can, of course, be dodged and a good shake, hit, or anything else inflicted upon the victim of Valeria's attack will shake them from this stupor. The attack, if not broken, will last twenty seconds and can be used three times in battle. She is able to strike someone up to a 10ft range in front of her.
Posted: Wed Dec 07, 2016 10:04 pm
As the agents flung rocks at the charging Hive, it shook its head, trying to deflect the stones, confused for a moment, veering toward the stones as it came rushing toward the General and the Captain, only to stop dead in its tracks as the corrupt senshi blasted it's feral mind with her magics. It froze completely still, seemingly dazed.
Leucite did not waste time at this point, slipping an arm around Stibnite's shoulder's he started to run-walk with her, doing his best to keep them both moving. He could see the blood staining the side of her uniform, he was half tempted to try and carry her, but he knew her well enough to know that if he did so, she'd likely hurt herself worse trying to kick him in the teeth. No, if she was up and moving, then he knew full well that she was probably fine, but he was not in the mood of risking them getting separated.
"RUN!" The general roared, the wrath barely contained in his voice. He did not give the Lieutenants or the Corrupt a choice, actually using his free hand to grab Valeria by the hair and pull her past him and then shove her forward in front of him.
"IF I DO NOT SEE ALL OF YOU IN FRONT OF ME AND RUNNING LIKE THE GODDAMN DEVIL IS ON YOUR a**, THAT YOUMA IS GOING TO BE THE LEAST OF YOUR WORRIES!" His voice nearly cracked from the strain. Iudicael was nowhere to be seen, whether the smaller feral had slunk off during the initial attack of the swarm or had been dusted it was impossible to tell.
All that was certain was that the General was not letting anyone out of his sight, and even wounded, was putting up a very brutal pace to stay ahead of.
"DOUBLE TIME! TO THE HALL!" He bellowed, eyes darting to each of the Lieutenants and the Corrupt who had come to assist them, eyes narrowing more as he did a headcount on the run. They were missing one...
"Where is Lopezi-" The General's question cut off as the group crested the ridge, seeing Lopezite recovering from his flight toward the hall. Lecuite had to give the young man credit. Clumsy as he might be - he at least followed orders.
"Lopezite, with me, the rest of you.... KEEP RUNNING!"
The dim, hazy outline of the hall was barely visible in the distance. Though it seemed the group was out of danger, it looked like Leucite wasn't about to let those who disobeyed orders let up any time soon.
Quote:
Well wasn't that exciting! At least the Hive was stopped in its tracks and you were able to get away with your loot! Though it seems the General isn't too pleased with people not following orders!
For those that fought, one more challenge awaits you! For those that fled - count your blessings!
Fighters: Roll 1d10, and consult the following table to see how well you keep up this murder run the General has you on back to the hall!
1-3: Huff... You can't... Puff... quite... hufff... make it... puff... You have to slow down, bringing you dangerously close to dropping behind Leucite as he marches with Stibnite back toward the Hall of Shadows. You're pretty sure those predatory eyes on your back DON'T belong to any youma...
4-6 You're able to keep up the pace, it's rough, and you know you're going to feel it in the morning - or tonight probably. The thought of a getting out of the Rift sounds really, really good right now though, even if you are being run ragged.
7-10 This isn't that bad, actually, yeah, it's more running than you'd really like to be doing, but you're barely breaking a sweat! You don't feel like you're going to be all that exhausted once you get to the Hall of Shadows.
Those that fled from the fight are exempt from this roll - however, if you wish to join your fellows in punishment you may roll if you so desire, but you are exempt as Leucite has called you to join them on their slightly slower paced march.
Hearing the shouts coming at him and the others that were staying to fight, Raspite nodded, dropping the next rock that he had been readying to throw, and near instantly breaking into a run toward the Hall of Shadows.
It was not the hardest of runs, he more than use to breakneck speed when it came to running from battles. In fact, he was pretty sure that fighting off the wolf youma the last time he was there, was harder than the punishment given. No the he would make note of that for the general.
Perhaps it was that he was in shape compared to some, but he reached the Hall of Shadows and simply leaned over to breathe. His hand on his knees as he took in slow, deep breaths to calm his racing heart. Well, if nothing else this current class was going to get them all in shape. Certainly a big plus for soldiers.
Watching as her magic hit and the monster seemed to...go still she wanted to jump and cheer. She was happy to see her magic work and even happier that it was giving them time to escape, to put some distance down - even if it wasn't much. Watching the General take off running, with the Captain, she didn't have time to think as he was passing her by and grabbing her hair to drag her along. She sort of expected it, it was like one really long leash, but she knew better then to complain or even fight his hold. Rather she picked up her pace and set to running to escape, she was likely to have angered that youma...not a good thing for her.
When her hair was free of his hold she was able to pick up her own pace. At least he wasn't scolding her for helping, she wasn't about to leave them behind to face the youma on their own. Though who knew...maybe he'd scold her afterwards. She would be ok with that though, so long as he and the Captain were ok as well as everyone else.
The pace he had set was not easy, she could already feel some of the burn in her legs despite the adrenaline pumping through her, when she got home and away from the Rift and the danger...she knew it would hit and hard. She was going to have burning leg muscles tonight, she really hoped she had some hot or cold packs at home...she was going to need them. At least she wasn't falling behind - she didn't think that would be good.
