Maybe it was the surety that they were all going to die when he saw the snake descend toward and collide with the shield. Maybe it was the electricity that arced through his body afterward and made him see stars. Either way, Emain Ablach took a step back once the electricity let up to regain his bearings. From the corner of his eye, it looked like the others were doing similar. Good, they were all still upright for now.
He looked down at his shield, then up at the snake. "Well, here goes nothing!" He was not a terribly athletic man, being a priest, but adrenaline was a hell of a drug. Skin still smarting from the electricity and the smell of singed hair in his nostrils, Emain Ablach gathered his legs under himself and took his shield in both hands to extend his reach. He grit his teeth, took a couple steps back, then sprang forward and up toward where the snake rested on the shield.
Emain Ablach was gratified to feel his shield solidly connect, so much so that he lost focus on his landing and stumbled when he came down. His breath hissed through his teeth as he narrowly avoided turning his ankles, and he thankfully ended still on his feet. "Alright. If I can hit it, I know you guys can."
Amoris took a second to respond to Emain Ablach, still breathless from the electricity in a way that left a stitch in his side that kept him from standing up straight for a long couple of moments. "Your shield," he managed past the muscle spasms, "is huge. That's not fair."
Not that Amoris wouldn't try, of course. But where Emain Ablach had taken his shield in both hands, Amoris had a different idea. Once he was able to stand up straight, he took his astrolabe in one hand and contemplated the frisbee-like size and shape. There was, of course, the risk that if he flung it at the snake, it would ricochet off into the crowd somewhere, and Amoris would have to go running after it.
He would have to take that risk. He kept one hand on it, wound up, then flung his arm out and straight up as hard as he could. At the furthest reach, he released his astrolabe and watched it fly true and straight into the snake where it rested on the shield. Better yet, the ricochet carried the shield back the way it had come, and Amoris was able to pin it with his foot before it could deflect away along what passed for the ground.
staripop
shiningamisgirl
Seiana_ZI
Amasis
Everyday Blob
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Amasis rolled 1 10-sided dice:
10Total: 10 (1-10)
Amasis
Everyday Blob
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Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2025 12:44 pm
Imhotep, squire of Mercury Location: G3 Action: healing 3HP each to Cryolite, Nectaris, Promethei, Amoris, and Emain Ablach Total: 10 + 5 = 15 HP: 90 /125
Imhotep moves his short staff around in a circle. Once the circle motion is complete, a holographic snake appears on the ground, forming a glowing circle about 10 feet in diameter. A translucent dome appears over the encircled area. Allies within this area may begin to feel their energy returning to them, as if they are having their batteries recharged, and they may find injuries easier to ignore with a temporary boost to their natural healing. After a limit of 40 seconds, the dome sputters and fizzles out, and the healing effect ends.
Spots still danced in his vision, but as soon as Emain Ablach and Amoris were both back on the ground, Imhotep took his staff and drew a circle in the air with it. He was much shorter than the other two. While there was a chance a running jump might give him the height he needed, Imhotep was more keen to do something about the damage caused by the electricity that had coursed through all of them.
A brief spiteful surge debated telling the agent to leave, that he did not get to benefit from what Imhotep was about to do. But Nectaris was vouching for him, responsible for him. And Imhotep did not feel like adding a fight with Emain Ablach or Nectaris--because he knew Emain Ablach would take her side--to the fight with the giant serpent. So he bit his tongue, took a deep breath, and pushed forward with the healing magic that surged as soon as the circle was complete and as soon as the glowing snake hologram had appeared under and around their feet. It arced over their heads to form a dome, sparking with electricity, and Imhotep felt the little hairs on his neck prickle.
It did not feel like any great amount was channeled to the others, and certainly none made it to himself, but hopefully it would help them eke by.
A carpet of very shallow (~ 3 inches deep) and still reddish water appears--reddish for the algal bloom suspended in it. The water causes the sensation of irritation, such as a burning throat, itchy burning eyes, or making it a little harder to breathe. It lasts for twenty seconds and can be used three times
"Well ******** that," Ancha groaned, rubbing her arm with the opposite hand to try and dispel the lingering feeling of numbness and tingling. She looked up to consider the snake resting on the shield. "Don't step in the water I'm about to summon," she said to Hydor and Sacha. "I'm hoping it can arc some of that lightning back to the snake." She stepped to the side a couple paces. Not too far away, but enough that she was able to angle her aim toward an empty area just in front of her.
"Red tide!" With a sweeping motion, the reddish water began to appear where she had aimed it. Thankfully. It was then that Ancha realised she could see the fumes wafting off of the water, where normally she couldn't. Those fumes began to flow upward toward the top of the shield as if blown by the wind.
And where they rose, they rose to the snake.
"Well I'll be damned." It wasn't lightning, but she'd take it.
Seidana_ZI
Hydor
Amasis
Everyday Blob
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lizbot rolled 1 10-sided dice:
8Total: 8 (1-10)
lizbot
No Faun
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Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2025 2:04 pm
Cadet Rhysi Location:moving from e2 to e1 with Joyeuse Garde (with permission from rejam) Action:attacking while moving to help with the 6th spike Total: (8 + 2 from Elicott) 10 HP: (100-35) 65
The shows of power continued until the creature was small enough, stilled enough, to strike. Her own shortbow was out and ready, and while Rhysi had positioned herself with the intention to either collect pieces of the destroyed scale or to get a chance to inspect the gap in the their circuit of power, well. It was a little frustrating to have both presented to her at once. To have to choose between two interesting things.
But the scale...was something she could have and own. To study or simply treat as precious. Turning her head to tell the knight to come and help her carry more of it away, Rhysi caught sight of just who...and what, was carrying the sixth spike to its proper place to complete the energy path.
A very small, very human child.
Who was calling for those around to help her.
Even as Rhysi scoffed, she began to correct her course, tersely telling the knight, "Assist her." Part of Rhsyi felt that she was doing the correct thing, but another, newer part felt a little disappointed that she, even here on Earth, was not above succumbing to the draw of the collective. Even after step by step moving away from the vanguard on this very field, she found herself simply moving to another. Though this one looked...very different.
Running toward the child, Rhysi shot off several energy bolts at the creature writhing overhead.
"Helping."
xrejam
xa-disgruntled-dragon
xMiddyGlow
xFiction1119
Amasis rolled 1 10-sided dice:
7Total: 7 (1-10)
Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2025 2:07 pm
Sacha, Order Mauvian Location: F6 Action: attacking CH for 100% Total: 7 HP: 65/100
Sacha's fur nearly stood on end from the crackling lightning, but that didn't stop him from neatly sidestepping the water that Ancha summoned. He wanted no part of it, either from the direct effects of the water or from being wet when there was so much electricity around them. However, he was not helpless, and it would do him well to remember that fact. He was not sure how much it would damage the great serpent, but it was better than nothing. Sacha turned, braced himself, and lanced a beam of light upward toward the beast.
Seiana_ZI
Hydor
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Everyday Blob
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lizbot rolled 1 10-sided dice:
1Total: 1 (1-10)
lizbot
No Faun
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Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2025 3:00 pm
Super Hybris location: actions:attack debuffing via becoming a copy of Laurelite, using Almadel's pin Total: (1 + 5 rank + 10 ic rp item) 16 (godbless him) HP: (125-35) 90
Telesto always just...seemed like such a reliable back to look while hiding behind. Hybris felt himself vaguely hoping the man upgraded soon. And then even more still. Would it be great to cheer on an Eternal Telesto as he eagerly charged into battle without any nasty thoughts about how maybe he shouldn't.
Hela getting a tiny snake doll was...well, certainly more appealing what was looming overhead. But fortunately, beautifully and reliably, the Mirror answered before he could even ask or question it. (Unlike some.) Hybris's smile widened with a childish energy, his expression more sincere than most people had ever gotten out of him.
It really did love them, love him, back, didn't it?
Of course the White Moon had to follow on its coattails, but as always, the Mirror was flexible in its collaborations. The beast grew smaller and figures were leaping higher and higher to reach it an attack. Subtly, Hybris moved to get a blood capsule out of his storage, ready to fake his own near-death injury, when he turned his head to see Laon with a discrete bit of blood on his face. Looking both very brave and very pitiful, as if he didn't want anyone to notice. The blood capsule was dropped back into storage. Hybris turned away with a disgusted look.
His thunder: stolen.
His meal: eaten up.
His plan: sabotaged from an unlikely corner.
So now...he'd have to make some kind of brave gesture first. And then play dead.
Gazing around the battlefield, around fallen scales and fighting figures, Hybris looked for the scariest person there before passing a hand in front of his face, casting his magic. Queen Laurelite now stood among the Dark Mirror Senshi; and after a very put upon sigh, jumped up into the air. Her voice called out, clear and carrying, "Hey! Do you want another?"
As if he had anything but the prospect of anything other than mild emotional damage and confusion to offer.
The electricity was still singing along Basiluzzo's skin and clothing when he whirled with his staff and brought it up to bear against the Calamitous Hollow's underbelly with a solid thwack that reverberated back along the staff to Basiluzzo's arms. He shook his arms out, tucking his staff in one of his loops of beads in the meantime, all the while swearing quietly but colourfully.
"Are you two good?" He turned to Encke and Viatrix while waiting for the tingling in his arms to stop, hands momentarily hanging limp from his wrists until he resumed shaking them out.
Tincalconite can issue a simple command (“stop”, “be quiet”, “run”, etc.) to another person. If they refuse the command, the target feels the sensation of irritation or burning across their skin. If the target obeys the command, then they’re spared the pain and discomfort. Tincalconite can’t issue complicated orders (“go in there and withdraw all your money from the ATM and give it to me”), and he runs the risk of backfire, where he must either obey the command or feel the consequences. He can do this three times to individuals within a 10-foot radius of himself.
Oh. Oh that did--
That did not tickle--
The feeling of Faustite sharing the burden hit Tincalconite between the metaphorical eyes, and it briefly staggered him in combination with the electricity on the field. For a brief moment, Tincalconite reached out and steadied himself by grabbing onto Borax's jacket, his other hand braced against his knees while he waited for the vertigo and pain to go away. Deep, steadying breaths left him as sweat beaded on his forehead. Nausea welled up in his gut, and he closed his eyes.
In the next second, though, Tincalconite straightened, gritting his teeth against the vestiges of it and looking up at the snake over their heads. His hand dropped from Borax's jacket, and he cracked his knuckles.
"Listen," was muttered under his breath before being followed by a much louder, "******** off!" aimed upward at the Calamitous Hollow. Could it even hear him? Did it count if someone disobeyed because they couldn't hear him?
lizbot
Hestia
strickenized
Faustite + Niter
Seiana_ZI
Borax + Fulgurite
Amor Remanet
Ilmari
Kolina
Helio + Magnus
a-disgruntled-dragon
Litharge + Haymitch + Mizuki
Shiningamisgirl
Albite + Cryolite
meighei
Tama
whimsical blue
Fafnir
Daekie
Pax
Amasis rolled 1 10-sided dice:
4Total: 4 (1-10)
Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2025 3:47 pm
Danube, page of Cybele Location: E5 to D5 back to E5 Action: attacking CH for 100% allocation Total: 4 HP: 65/100
As soon as Danube could reliably breathe again, she did the first thing that came to mind--she threw her arrow at the monster. Much to her surprise, it flew almost as if she had fired it, albeit at a speed that she imagined was much slower than an actual arrow actually fired from an actual bow. It pinged off of the side of the Calamitous Hollow, and Danube had to run a couple paces to retrieve it.
It had landed at the feet of a couple of Pluto knights, and Danube gave them both a hasty apology for likely nearly hitting them with her arrow while she was at it. Hoping she hadn't thrown off their own shots, Danube whirled and darted back toward Cybele, Siegfried, and the other Cybele knights. "Name's Danube, by the way!" she tossed over her shoulder with a salute.
staripop
Cybele
Strickenized
Celadon
OP-Yuna
Hierapolis, Steins
a-scowling-dragon
Siegfried
Seiana_ZI
Richtersveld, Dumuzi
Amasis
Everyday Blob
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Amasis rolled 1 10-sided dice:
9Total: 9 (1-10)
Amasis
Everyday Blob
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Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2025 4:09 pm
Stromboli, squire of Uranus Location: I7 Action: putting all of the damage from his melee attack into CH Total: 9 HP: 90/125
When he spins it to use his magic, it kicks up a surge of air--like a vortex--that carries a cloud of dust. The air swirls around him, and the cloud of dust can impede the line of sight, potentially cause coughing, etc. The surge expands to a maximum of 10 feet across and can be channeled for up to 40 seconds at a time.
For a moment, Stromboli thought that was it--that kind of hit was going to put him out for sure. But when it ended and he was still standing--albeit winded--Stromboli had to admit that would be giving up too easily. He almost started to spin his paddle, then thought better of it given all of the people in his area. The last thing he wanted to do was summon a wind gust full of debris on top of them. So, after a moment of further contemplation, he shifted his grip to the end of the paddle, twisted, and brought it around as hard as he could against the closest part of the Calamitous Hollow he could reach.
He had to do what he could to protect the winged senshi that had just taken the full brunt of whatever that spike was capable of--
eldritch stardust
Kaefaux
staripop
Amor Remanet
Noir Songbird
its_ p a o
Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2025 4:19 pm
Queen Laurelite Location: C8 Action: Speaking to Niter, Ganymede, and Valhalla; attacking Total: Roll +25 [Laurelite is stronger than a standard fourth stage character so has a unique modifier] HP: ???
Laurelite’s smile was unchanging, though she had no appreciation for the magical display of shimmering light. In her opinion, a far less impressive blast than her own.
Still, they had a common enemy, so perhaps it was appreciated. She accepted her scythe from Valhalla and answered, “Oh, just something I was keeping up my sleeves. Why, do you want to see what else I can do?”
Ganymede had tried to throw a punch but she’d been stopped by Sessrumnir, and though she couldn’t quite see past Lucien to lock eyes with the Princess, she could imagine her expression. Laurelite’s fingers curled around her scythe.
Beatrix and Meissa were given a coy smile, and to Niter she said, “It’s all right. They have time to learn. Magnus, once this is over, you can collect as many as you like. I’ll be sure to break some up for you.”
There were a few people around, and for as easily as it would have been for Laureltie to attack them–or let them be injured in her attack, she expressed expert control of her scythe, and her willpower.
Instead, she teleported into the air and struck the Calamitous Hollow with great force; a blue haze lingered where her scythe had made contact, and though a scale didn’t fall, she clearly cleaved it in two. Her scythe was buried so deeply in it that she probably could have used it to anchor herself onto the beast; instead, she teleported back to where she'd been standing.
Strickenized
Niter
Kolina
Magnus
Sunshine Alouette
Ganymede
Guine
Valhalla, Sessrumnir, Lucien
Sara Draconia
Beatrix
tefla
Meissa
Kyuseisha no Hikari
Alastor
The Space Cauldron
Captain
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lizbot rolled 1 10-sided dice:
9Total: 9 (1-10)
lizbot
No Faun
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Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2025 4:29 pm
Corrupt Eternal Hestia location: a4 action:attacking with her magic, Almadel's pin in effect Total: (9 + 10 rank + 5 spike bonus + 10 ic rp item) 34 HP: (150-35-5) 110
It hurt, as all such things should. There was always a price to pay for power, for purpose, and for the right to a world that existed past this battle. It cost them their pride and past hatreds to collaborate with one another. It cost them their time and their peace of mind for the month leading up to this. It cost her General King night upon night of searching and reaching out. The pain of the flesh could in some ways be considered the least and simplest price, and it was one she was glad to share.
One by one there were announcement, loud and quiet, of dedication, of the honor it was to share the burden and to take the risk. For one another and with another. And then Ilmari spoke and for a moment, she wavered, not in her own purpose, but in the fact that he was so very, very young and untried.
In some ways, the maid senshi had continued to favor Order with small lessons. She tried to instill the weight of their fight, of their choices and risks taken. Hestia taught the weaker, newer members of order that every night could be a set of life and death decisions.
She took care of those in the negaverse, but she never tried to train them. Never tried to make them stronger, in body, heart, or mind. She had, to a certain degree, decided to fail them in this.
On high, the miracle of the White Moon, their ever reliable answer of Hope and Need, shot down the snake, even smaller now, and pain coursed through her even more viciously. But the fight was just starting, and she could feel the field had changed and shifted, finally, into their hands.
Giving Ilmari a solemn look, she cast her magic, its huge, scouring swirl aimed at a section of flesh missing a scale, she told him, "If you want us to live, don't ask for it, fight for it!"
strickenized
Faustite + Niter
Seiana_ZI
Borax + Fulgurite
Amor Remanet
Ilmari
Kolina
Helio + Magnus
a-disgruntled-dragon
Litharge + Haymitch + Mizuki
amasis
Tincanolite
Shiningamisgirl
Albite + Cryolite
meighei
Tama
whimsical blue
Fafnir
Daekie
Pax
Amasis rolled 1 10-sided dice:
6Total: 6 (1-10)
Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2025 4:40 pm
Super Sailor Ran of Games Location: I7 Action: flinging game pieces at the Calamitous Hollow as hard as he can for as much damage as he can do Total: 6 HP: 90/125
Ran had the thought that the pain could be a lot worse. He'd been in fights that hurt pretty bad. The one that had sent him to Hillsworth had been pretty bad. Granted, that one had been against kids his own age and roughly his own size, not against an eldritch serpent that--even shrunken and resting on the shield--they still could not see the head of. But the pain, plus Stromboli, had helped shake him out of his panic from earlier, and for that, Ran supposed he had to be grateful.
Smoothing out his skirt, he took a moment to contemplate his next move. There was nothing he could do for the senshi with the spike. He didn't have any healing magic. What he could do was summon a depression in the ground--or what passed as ground--with a bunch of tokens and pieces of game boards in it. But the monster was in the sky. Or, again, what passed for it.
Well, his mothers didn't raise a quitter.
"Pit trap," he muttered, aiming it away from the people clustered near the spike. Even though he was sure he could see sky under his feet, the "ground" still warped accommodatingly and the pieces materialized. And sat there. Ran had hoped they would fling themselves at the Calamitous Hollow, but it seemed like he wasn't going to have any such luck. So, gingerly and oh-so-carefully, Ran stepped down into the pit himself. He shuffled forward so that he wouldn't step on any of them himself.
Crouching down, he grabbed two handfuls of jacks, marbles, dice, all manner of game pieces. Time to see if his idea would work. He took a deep breath and stood up, wound back, and let fly with both handfuls of game pieces. To his credit, they did hit the Calamitous Hollow. What effect they had, he had no idea.
Onasilos reeled from the damage done, staggering back much more than he would perhaps have liked to admit to. Without thinking, he reached into subspace and withdrew the little blue bag that he had been given. Inside was the berry, which was swiftly popped into his mouth while he tried to regain his breath. It had been a very long time since he had been in any kind of sustained battle. He was not bearing the burden that the senshi with the spike was bearing, and he had not recovered as easily as the boy beside him.
This was not the time to let his pride get the better of him, Onasilos sharply reminded himself. He would need to keep a cool head about him if he expected to make it out the situation alive. And it would do very poorly to have come all this way from his homeworld to die in battle due to losing his composure.
eldritch stardust
Kaefaux
staripop
Amor Remanet
Noir Songbird
its_ p a o
Amasis
Everyday Blob
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The Space Cauldron rolled 2 10-sided dice:
4, 7Total: 11 (2-20)
The Space Cauldron
Captain
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Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2025 4:53 pm
General King Axinite Location: B6 Action: Staying near Taenite and Tyndareus but attacking Total: Roll + 15 ; (Laurelite is dice one, Axinite dice two) HP: 165/200
Axinite had been quiet for a moment; it took an immense effort to remain focused and unflinching. He was proud of what the Negaverse had accomplished, but without hubris. The White Moon had conjured something monstrous as well, and he found himself squinting in the brightness of it.
He didn’t give Taenite the word to teleport, he hadn’t wanted him to go past the barrier.
For good reason, obviously; when the Calamitous Hollow crashed into the shield above, his face had already settled into a deep frown. His brows were knitted tightly and Axinite couldn’t hide his dread. He was rigid, and he held his axe too tightly. Just being here seemed like it was enough to make him sick.
But, he was here for Earth. For the Negaverse.
He wanted to bring as many of them home as possible. Preferably in one piece.
The collision had caused an immense amount of damage and he felt the ache through him. He glanced at Taenite and Tyndareus to confirm they were all right, but he knew what risks came with dragging his feet too much.
Words he might have said perished on his lips. His eyes darted between the two briefly, and then turned to the sky.
Axinite moved like the lightning itself; he teleported into the air above and moved so quickly that it was almost entirely impossible to see him slamming the axe into a scale with such ferocity that it shattered completely, breaking it into a thousand tiny shards that rained down helplessly on the shield, too tiny to cause even the slightest damage.
Axinite was back on the ground before the first of the shards reached the shield and he looked up to watch as some of them fell to the ground below. Most of them bounced off the shield and disappeared out of sight.
He exhaled, like there was a deep weight on his shoulder, and looked like he was getting ready to go up again.
