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 Posted: Sat Mar 22, 2025 11:51 pm
Ekstrom’s eyes were currently skyward, at the clouds rolling overhead. They seemed especially ominous at night, with the moonlight occasionally able to peek through when the clouds shifted just right. The storm was a constant threat but, at least for now, it was calm and quiet, and allowed for a relatively peaceful patrol.
The Knight was in one of the myriad of parks, one that happened to be on the outskirts of Destiny City, and settled smack in the middle of a small clearing surrounded by some trees. It afforded good cover against civilians, though she knew with her new aura it would do jack all against any magically inclined folks, Chaos or otherwise. Despite that, she looked plenty relaxed, the way she was leaning back, propped up on her hands as she watched the sky. There had been plenty of things on her mind of late, so much so that she felt herself starting to tip back into one of those episodes…
She powered up to avoid it, and had been hoping for some kind of productive encounter. She was starting to will herself to just call it a night when she felt the aura of a Squire in the immediate vicinity. Glancing in its direction, she looked significantly happier than just moments earlier, as though the prospect of encountering a friendly had knocked the feeling of being overwhelmed by too many things all at once down a few pegs.
It wasn’t much, but it was enough to pull her lips up into a genuine smile.
elldritch stardust ”those episodes” = what I’ve dubbed as her Potato Episode = escapist’s desperate drop of any and all responsibilities for a while due to being overwhelmed ovob
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Posted: Sun Mar 23, 2025 11:06 am
When Nis had gone out, intent on finding a quiet place to practice strategy, she had not expected to feel the presence of a fairly strong aura the moment she'd powered up. Though the power surge was undeniably friendly, she bit a lips slightly in thought. The polite thing to do would be to go and say hello.
Nis decided to do the polite thing.
It would probably mean that she wouldn't be able to call the wisp to her for a bit of fun and distraction, but one never knew. As she tracked the source of the aura down, the squire realized that this might actually be a stroke of luck. Her entire purpose in powering up had been to figure out ways to use the little magics she had effectively. And somewhere close by was someone who felt stronger than she knew herself to be, who was also Order aligned.
This was a golden chance to ask for advice and brainstorm. She'd have been a fool to give that up just to play with her odd little pet. And Nis liked to believe that she was no fool.
"Hellooooo out there!"
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Posted: Tue Mar 25, 2025 10:53 pm
Happy to be in the vicinity of someone who was as friendly and energetic as she normally was (minus all the stress and other concerns currently weighing down her spirit), Ekstrom quickly closed the gap. She took quick stock of certain details as she got closer–the strength of the aura, and the symbols once she could make them out. Not that it made a difference how she treated them, but she worried a little bit less when she left a Squire on their own versus a Page.
“Hi!” she returned the greeting, and once she was within reach extended her hand for a complete introduction. “I’m Ekstrom, of Mercury. It’s nice to finally run into someone tonight. Guessing you’ve been out on patrol, too? Or just getting started?”
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Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2025 3:27 pm
Nis’ first impression was one of far too many layers. How on earth was this girl not roasting to death? Or maybe Nis herself was spoiled by her own costume. Certainly she would have killed for that many layers when everything had been covered in snow. Brushing the thought aside, the squire smiled widely and gave a little nod, mentally placing this girl, Ekstrom, in the Knight category and taking note of her colors and symbols.
“Mercury, hrmm? I’ve seen a few of your brethren out and about over the years, though I never had the pleasure of talking to them. Well, Ekstrom of Mercury, I’m Nis, Squire of Cosmos. It’s a pleasure to meet you and to answer your question…”
Now, Nis looked a little shame-faced. She hadn’t even thought of patrolling, too intent on figuring out ways to be a more effective fighter.
“I’m afraid I’m out here mainly to try and figure out how to make the most of my little magics. I’m afraid that in keeping with my Patron’s influence, I’m not much of a combatant. I’d like to fix that.”
It cost her something to admit that she wasn’t all capable. But this was a fellow knight, even if their patrons were different. If anyone was going to understand, it would be another knight. Besides, Ekstrom herself practically exuded the sort of friendliness that invited such confidences. And maybe another knight could help her draft some strategies for the next time she had to fight.
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Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2025 1:35 am
”Nice to meet you, too!” she returned, curiously looking over the other’s outfit with quiet envy. While her own outfit was fantastic in the colder months, it definitely didn’t do her any favors any other time of the year. She often pulled her jacket off and set her hat aside so she was a little more comfortable. She was too preoccupied to do that earlier that evening though, so…well.
It was a small thing, at the end of the day.
Nis’s concern about fighting was a familiar one, and sensing that she was maybe a bit self-conscious about it, the Knight gave a little wave of her hand as if to dismiss the notion that this was anything to be ashamed of.
“That’s as good a reason to be powered as patrolling,” she said, then offered an encouraging smile and (hopefully) comforting pat on the shoulder. “If you’re looking for a sparring partner, I’m here if you’ll have me. Though...we should probably find some place more out of sight before we get started?”
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Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2025 11:47 am
Feeling slightly relieved to not be put under judgement for her lack, Nis smiled and nodded in agreement before bursting into a laugh.
“I didn’t even consider the locale,” she admitted. “But I do think you’re correct. And I would love to spar. I promise not to actually hit you with my magic. Will telling you the effects help to draft some ideas?”
Wasn’t Mercury known for smarts, she thought. She could remember past meetings and gatherings where Mercury knights had spoken up and offered well thought out ideas or suggestions. Really, short of encountering another Cosmos knight, who would understand their limits, a Mercury knight might well be the very best encounter she could have hoped for.
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Posted: Wed Apr 02, 2025 3:02 am
”Don’t worry about me,” she said, turning to briefly scan the immediate area and soon pointing toward a cluster of trees. “Let’s try over there?” she cut the thought off for a second, just to get them going. She figured they could talk plans for the little sparring session as they went.
“But yeah, just focus on your accuracy. If you can use your magic while on the move, that’ll be an advantage for sure. And it would, yeah! Not that I’m an expert or anything,” she quickly added with a half-nervous laugh, because she wasn’t! And she would hate to disappoint if Nis was looking for expert strategies or anything like that. “But from personal experience, definitely thoroughly knowing my magic and what I can use has helped me get out of pretty sticky situations.”
She thought fondly back to how her blow torch, of all things, helped her and Ilmare get away from those violent trees that one summer. “It’s also may not always be about magic,” she then thought to add. “I don’t know if we can put weapons or anything like that in our subspace, but other practical things maybe. You never know.”
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Posted: Wed Apr 02, 2025 4:12 pm
Nodding in easy agreement, Nis followed Ekstrom to the better location and considered her words. She’d never really thought that accuracy was a problem since she’d never had to point at anyone. It was always pointing to somewhere just above them. That should be easy enough while moving, shouldn’t it? But it wasn’t what she could do that worried her the most. It was the pitiable amount of time that she had to do it in that was the problem.
“I mean, seems reasonable and I’ll try to use it on the move. But I really only get ten good seconds of being able to keep someone stuck in one place and immobilized,” she explained. “It works fine if I’m with someone who can use that time to advantage, but if I’m alone it feels a bit stickier.”
The idea of storing things in subspace had some merit though. She’d have to experiment with that later. But for now…
Taking a defensive stance on the grass, Nis summoned her weapon and held it defensively, tucked against her forearm.
“So do we just start swinging at each other?” she asked with a faint smile.
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Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2025 5:34 pm
”Ten seconds…”
Ekstrom’s brows naturally came together as she tried to pull together scenarios they could practice where she could make the most out of those precious seconds she had to channel her magic.
“Against a determined agent, that’s not enough time to get away since they can teleport,” she said almost to herself, “so maybe it’d be a good idea to learn how to use your magic in tandem with close combat type fights?”
She watched Nis take a defensive stance and, at her question, gave a nod as she equipped her shield. Overplanning wouldn't do either of them any good, so it was probably better to get started and figure out where to go from there. So, pulling her focus, she jabbed the tip of her shield into the ground, summoning her forcefield and adjusting it so it just barely surrounded her person.
“Yep, whenever you’re ready, come at me!”
Knight — Ekström impales her shield into the ground. Upon focusing, a forcefield materializes from her shield and surrounds her, and at her will it can contract or expand to include anyone up to within 10 feet of her. The forcefield is light blue and glitchy in appearance. She has a magic pool of 50 seconds. For the duration of her casting, the shield can absorb or reflect (which one it does is up to her at the time of casting) all magical effects up to her rank. It can slightly lessen the damage of fourth stage magic. Reflected magic remains as strong as the magic of the one who cast it if it does hit someone (she has no control over the direction the magic is reflected). She cannot reflect fourth stage magic. Individuals are able to touch and/or pass through the forcefield, however enemies that do will feel as though something inside their body is short circuiting, causing very sharp pains to run through their entire body. For a few seconds moving becomes difficult but not impossible. Magic is unaffected and unhindered within the forcefield. Ekström can withdraw the physical shield from the ground to take it with her to help those within her field of protection, but she still needs to focus in order to maintain the forcefield. Because of this, her help would be very limited. If she is overly jostled it would break her focus, thus the forcefield would de-materialize.
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Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2025 6:28 pm
Eyes widening slightly, Nis managed to not flinch back from Ekstrom's quick movement. Instead, she smiled a little smile and adjusted her stance, moving to slowly circle and take in whatever was happening.
"Well. That's handy. How'd you manage to score the fun shield and I just get a stick? Ain't fair."
Not that she expected fairness out of the universe. But it was strange how some things fell out. Well, She'd wanted someone to work with her, might as well do something. At least Ekstrom couldn't teleport.
Could she? No, surely not.
Well, she wasn't learning anything just pacing. Backing up, she ran forward, intending to get some momentum behind the fist that moved towards the other knight. Nis had every intention of pulling the blow, but she needed to do something. This would work for now. Especially since she wanted to try her magic while moving. But she also wanted to see how effective the sheild was.
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Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2025 9:36 pm
Ekstrom smirked.
“Might have to ask the Code,” she replied, knowing full well how lucky she was with her weapon and her magic. She wasn’t sure she could get creative with anything that wasn’t overtly a weapon, though if hard pressed…maybe. At least with her shield, while it wasn’t necessarily offensive in nature, she could do more with it than just block a punch.
Though for the moment that was all she needed it to do. Using her shield, she tried to knock the other’s fist away, hoping to create an opening for her to reach in with her own fist aimed at Nis’s side.
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Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2025 11:24 am
Making a face at the mention of the Code, Nis sighed. “Hrnnn, I’d really rather not if it’s all the same. Damn thing would probably decide to be all portentous at me.”
She felt her fist blocked and shoved to the side, leaving a big enough gap that Ekstrom’s fist was able to connect with her side. Grunting a little, Nis took the blow, allowing momentum to push her back.
“Good hit.”
She didn’t remain still for very long. The blow had been very careful and only stung a little. Taking another breath, she darted in again, this time going low and aiming for Ekstrom’s ankles, hoping to sweep the other knight’s legs out from under her. If she could knock her down, then possibly use her magic to immobilize the other girl… That could work in theory as a means of making an escape.
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Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2025 5:04 pm
She felt a brief wave of guilt at her punch connecting, though it was short-lived. Before she could fully process what Nis had poised to do, Ekstrom felt her legs get swept out from underneath her. Gravity mercilessly pulled her back towards the ground, and she landed in a small heap atop her shield, the wind knocked out of her and her shield arm sore from taking her full weight all at once.
eldritch stardust Wanted to give her room to do her magic, so more smool o/
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Posted: Fri Apr 18, 2025 3:17 pm
Well, she hadn't expected her leg sweep to work quite so well as that! Fumbling for a moment to bring her stick up, she pointed it to the place just above Ekstrom's head and focused. She was rewarded with a shimmering beam of starlight appearing and grinned as she scrambled to her own feet.
She knew that Ekstrom wouldn't be able to move from that spot for ten seconds, though she knew her magic did something else, though she hadn't really learned just what that was.
"You'll have to tell me everything you're experiencing," she said. "I've only been able to figure out the not moving part."
its_ p a o Squire - A slightly curved stick with honeysuckle and starry motifs carved into it Spell - The stick is pointed to a spot high above the enemy's head, causing what appears to be a single point of light that traps them in a single, slanting beam of starlight. As long as Nis is channeling, the target will be unable to leave the beam and will feel a seeping cold on any exposed skin. The maximum amount of time she is able to channel at this stage results in an immobilization of up to 10 seconds and seeping cold of up to 30 seconds.
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Posted: Sun May 04, 2025 11:39 pm
In any fight, soreness was barely an excuse to not move, so it was only a matter of maybe a second or two from impact with the ground before Ekstrom started to try and move. Enough time for Nis to aim her magic at her, though, so instead of sitting still for just a moment, she found herself unable to move at all.
Which, considering this was a spar, was kinda nice. More rest, a chance to catch her breath.
What was less nice, was the cold that started seeping into her, from her neck and upwards. Her face crumpled up at the discomfort, especially because she couldn't move to bundle up against it. If she even could…and there was no way to actually find out.
"It's cold," she said, starting to shiver where she lay. "Just from my neck up, but it's pretty uncomfortable.
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