+- Court of the Fallen (https://cotf-rpg.com)
+-- Forum: Out of Character (https://cotf-rpg.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=26)
+--- Forum: Important (https://cotf-rpg.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=27)
+---- Forum: Archives (https://cotf-rpg.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=38)
+---- Thread: [SE] all the destruction left behind (/showthread.php?tid=11631)
Pages:
1
2
all the destruction left behind - Deimos - 07-01-2025
It was odd, to wake up one morning and no longer feel the weight of so many circumstances lingering on his shoulders.
There would always be the region and his family, but the overarching colossus that had rooted itself down his spine no longer waged war with all the other entangled responsibilities. Void nuances could still be an issue, but nothing compared to what had loomed before them – Starfall, a new god growing, the Family themselves…
All after one rose.
It might’ve been enough to make him laugh. Instead, the relief came with confusion – uncertain about what to truly do with himself, other than the usual. He could go back to singularly working on Halo. Restorations. Trainings. Patrols. Duties not formulated to blistering into monstrous archetypes and billowing down cavern corridors. He could attend to the guild, and anything it required.
But for this day, he ventured towards King’s End, intending to see what still remained out amidst the plains. Belial and Zuriel accompanied – the former flying and hovering, divebombing on blink hares when he could, and the unicorn composed in all her regal stature.
Until, of course, there was wailing nearby – manifesting from shadows, lurching beyond a grove of trees.
RE: all the destruction left behind - Dantalion - 07-01-2025
Danta has discovered something new. Namely, when he's shifted into the sleek midnight scales of a black fucking dragon, it's a lot quicker to get from place to place. Having taken high into the sky on wings like great shadows stretched out towards the clouds, he doesn't even realise he's heading south, let alone when the first tumps and barrows of King's End come into view.
With pale eyes scanning the area below, it's of little effort to let himself catch a thermal and descend, casting a vast, black shape on the long grasses below.
And he might have been content to merely pass over and turn around were it not for the shrieking, keening call of something that sounds distinctly like it ought to have died five times already. At that, Danta snorts out a billowing breath of smoke and turns his attention towards wherever the spectral, void-warped creature might be.
He doesn't quite catch sight of it, though in all honesty, it's because he spots Deimos first. Offering a roar of greeting that's likely more unnerving than it is cheerful, the Sword will find himself subject to a sudden divebomb from a dragon. If Danta times it right, he ought to be able to flare his wings and shift back before he touches the ground. If he doesn't, he's either going to eat fucking dirt, or Deimos is going to zap him with some hardcore magic.
RE: all the destruction left behind - Deimos - 07-01-2025
It seemed he was about to be focusing on a combination of things screaming into the distance. Torn between the void nonsense up ahead, and the drifting, incoming behemoth, Deimos saw the outline of the black dragon well before the outcry and roar – his figure immediately going into an unyielding designation; a likely promise of vehemence and violence But his mind hadn’t, eyes narrowing as he studied the beast coming in closer, and closer, well aware that these sorts weren’t native to this region –
Which meant it was a shift.
He did maneuver out of the way by mere feet as wings flared and dirt whisked around in distinct clouds. Belial screeched something terrible, immediately rising back into the sky. Now, he’d have to surmise if this one was a threat, someone he knew, both, a stranger blasting by –
Snorting through though, because there were only a certain amount it could be, he shook his head, tossing aside a few torn apart flowers that had ended up sticking to his shoulders. [say]“Nice entrance.”[/say]
RE: all the destruction left behind - Dantalion - 07-04-2025
It's the former, as it happens, and isn't that lucky for everyone involved. (Except Belial, sorry Belial). Wafting dust from the dry soil away from his face as he straightens up, Danta beams towards Deimos and sketches a roguish little bow, and though he's also littered with a few torn leaves and flowers and his hair is wind-tossed, the Maverick seems cheerful enough.
[say]"You are too kind,"[/say] he tells the Sword. [say]"Bit harder to manoeuvre than a crow, but I think I'm starting to understand the mechanics."[/say] And he's sticking the landing more times than not too, so those are all positive signs.
Rolling his shoulders as if he can still sense the wings itching beneath his skin, Danta turns abruptly as if trying to figure out if the sound he'd heard is still warbling out across Mourn. [say]"Did you hear something a few seconds ago?"[/say] he wonders. [say]"It sounded real unhappy."[/say]
RE: all the destruction left behind - Serendipity - 07-04-2025
You’ve encountered Quicksand Moss! It should be fairly easy to escape from, though you might experience lingering pain or swelling in your leg.
Quicksand Moss - Quicksand moss has the appearance of dead moss, although in reality, this brown colour is due to it consuming animals instead of sunlight. It grows anywhere a regular moss or lichen would, but grabs any creature foolish enough to come near and quickly digests them.
RE: all the destruction left behind - Deimos - 07-04-2025
The reveal of Danta suddenly made a lot more sense, and Deimos couldn’t help but snort, shaking his head as he began walking across the clearing, fully intent on chasing after the aforementioned screaming. [say]“Good shift to have anyway,”[/say] figuring the Ancient would relish terrorizing hordes of individuals with the looming threat of his dragon presence alone. [say]“I did, I was just heading that-,”[/say]
Well, way, but his words died and cut off as his leg suddenly sunk into some quicksand moss, lying in wait beneath the plumes of flowers, leaves, dirt, and soil. [say]“Ridiculous,”[/say] he murmured, rolling his eyes as he was snagged by the ground. Zuriel gave him a look from nearby, snorting, unimpressed, as he began to unfurl earthen incantations, intent on freeing himself, and Danta, should the Maverick find himself in the same set of snares.
RE: all the destruction left behind - Dantalion - 07-05-2025
[say]"Mm, it's definitely makes people look up when you take off from the Inner Quarter,"[/say] Danta agrees; perhaps he ought to have Kiada put out a notice to warn their citizens not to freak out if they spot him in the sky. But eh, that's more of a later problem. Nodding to Deimos, he's about to remark that he was also going to investigate the noise when lo and behold, if only it had been a bear trap.
(Not because he'd wish that on the Sword, but because it would be quite the hilarious reversal of roles from when they'd first met).
Dancing around the fringes of the quicksand moss and finding himself luckily still free of it, he adds his own scorch magic to the attempts. And wouldn't you know, quicksand moss hates being manipulated by incantations and set on fire, and Deimos is soon free to continue as it writhes and coils away from the assault.
[say]"Well, that was fun - but it still wasn't what was screaming originally,"[/say] he says, just as the mournful wailing warbles through the air again, and the Maverick turns towards the grove. [say]"Shall we?"[/say]
RE: all the destruction left behind - Deimos - 07-05-2025
Deimos recognized the very brief parallels but kept them to himself – tugging away at the ground instead, until he was freed due to fire and his own enchantments. [say]“Thank you,”[/say] he snorted, taking a few steps away, checking over his soaked pant leg, before rolling his eyes again and continuing the actual path. Zuriel’s smug, superior look was enough for him to stand straighter and pretend nothing occurred.
And correct – the moss hadn’t been screaming. He likely would’ve avoided it then. Which meant the other things were nearby, shrieking now that they’d been ignored. [say]“Yes.”[/say] Suddenly he was quite willing to desecrate anything of note nearby.
Belial screeched overhead, swooping back into the air as they came closer to the spectral villis – three of them – wails echoing and hovering near the shade of several trees – rags moving, clearly grasping for anyone to step within their range. [say]“What nice ladies,”[/say] came on a sarcastic rumble, shaking his head. And visibly unimpressed with the display after everything he’d seen, immediately sent a vicious wake of Mastered Air towards them. Continuing on in conversation, as if this was normal happenstance, he shrugged his shoulders, preparing another wake. [say]"You must not have many void things left in the Grounds."[/say]
RE: all the destruction left behind - Dantalion - 07-06-2025
[say]"My pleasure,"[/say] Danta croons, grinning at Zuriel as if able to sense the superiority and judgement in her expression, before he falls easily back into stride with Deimos to investigate the disembodied wailing. At least, as it happens, the mournful cries are attached to bodies, and Danta scrunches his nose at the sight of the three ragged creatures in the grove like a trio of hags plotting the demise of some Scottish general.
[say]"Ladies?"[/say] he repeats dubiously. [say]"What are they?"[/say] Having never come across them before, it evidently doesn't stop him from following up the Sword's assault with another blast of scorch magic in their direction. The creatures' wails soon become screeches of rage and pain, and they round on the two of them with ill intent, still aflame and shredded by the blades of air.
[say]"We've still got a few problem areas,"[/say] Danta replies of the void in the Grounds. [say]"I was about to receive something to protect another part of the region, but it seems quite irrelevant now,"[/say] he admits.
RE: all the destruction left behind - Deimos - 07-07-2025
[say]“Spectral villis,”[/say] Deimos noted with casual indifference, as if reading from one of his journal entries on the subject matter, stored away in the guild or placed on notice boards. He snorted as they became wreathed in flame, suddenly very amused as they rounded back on them – immediately forging a ferocious force of wind around himself and Dantalion. It acted as a shield momentarily, before shoving it outwards, intending to place some distance and wage an onslaught simultaneously. [say]“Vengeful spirits and the like,”[/say] shrugging his shoulders – King’s End seemed to have an endless barrage of vindictive, acrimonious, and bitter cadavers. Nearly relatable, really.
So while they wailed and carried on, he tilted his head, listening to the Maverick over the gales he’d been constructing. [say]“We did the same. Protected Halo from the Family, only for them to leave soon after.”[/say] But it’d been worth the peace for a day or so. [say]“I had meant to send you some news of the Head of the Family coming to see me, but it ended up not mattering either.”[/say] All the trepidation and apprehension lanced and laced within his form had been meaningful for him and his region, and a warning sign for others, but with their departure – much less of an issue.
RE: all the destruction left behind - Dantalion - 07-09-2025
[say]"Huh,"[/say] Danta says, storing the name of the creatures away to be misremembered later. [say]"Do they always come in threes like a coven of witches, or is this a special occasion?"[/say] Deimos seems to know much more about them than he does, so perhaps he'll be aware of their... customs?
Regardless, their latest custom seems to involve being on fire, so it will be a short-lived parade of vengeful spirits either way. [say]"I don't think I ever come here without hearing about some ghost story or another,"[/say] he remarks. [say]"Ludo must have a blast with this place."[/say]
Letting his fire die as the shield of air buffets around them both, Danta is content to slip his hands in his pockets and watch the inevitable demise of the spectral villi as they are churned up by Deimos's magic. Soon there is little more than a few rags fluttering away on the breeze, and those too are dissolving bit by bit.
[say]"Ah, it's alright. We got news that they'd left pretty late as well. Hadama sent something through a few days after it happened, I think. Doesn't matter either way, if it means we can start saying goodbye to this shit for good."[/say] He smiles lopsidedly.
RE: all the destruction left behind - Deimos - 07-09-2025
[say]“Not necessarily. Think we just happen to be lucky.”[/say] He hadn’t heard of any other circumstances, but instances may not have been reported either. The Sword rarely put such matters out of the range of possibility – this was Caido, after all, and sometimes there were no explanations for immense or strange circumstances. His brow arched at the sentiments of ghost stories though, a small inkling of a smile appearing in the corner of his mouth, especially as the villis simply died and dwindled into nothing. [say]“Mm. Always some legend from another war,”[/say] and his gaze tracked to where the barrows were off in the distant hills.[say] “Perhaps there was much to be vengeful about.”[/say] Gods knew he was petty enough.
That Hadama had delivered the Grounds news of the events caused a brief nod, a long breath extended as naught else seemed to be amiss presently. [say]“True.”[/say] Relief was a strange concept once more, but it’d eventually settle, hopefully far deeper than the weights of everything else. Snorting, he shrugged his shoulders, gaze eventually landing back upon the Ancient. [say]“Since I do not have to upgrade any gas masks at present, did you still want a bag of holding?” [/say]
RE: all the destruction left behind - Dantalion - 07-14-2025
[say]"Your definition of luck and mine are very different,"[/say] Danta says with a crooked grin, though even if three of the villi had been a bad omen, it doesn't appear to have caused them any lingering problems. Following Deimos's gaze across to the Barrows in the distance, he nods absently. [say]"That's one of the things that definitely hasn't changed,"[/say] he agrees. It was the same before he'd been stone, and he imagines it will be the same long after he's gone. [say]"Would you want to be buried in one of those things?"[/say] he wonders absently, wrinkling his nose at the distant tombs.
Tearing his gaze away so he might focus back on Deimos, clearly relief is a foreign concept for them both, because the Maverick looks honestly surprised at the other man's offer. Not just that he has time to focus on things that aren't arguably life-or-death now, but that he'd remembered their previous conversation. [say]"I absolutely won't say no, if there's one going."[/say] He grins. [say]"...Thanks. That's really generous of you."[/say]
RE: all the destruction left behind - Deimos - 07-14-2025
He gave another grin in response; his past statement had been made an entirely facetious display, but then he listened to the question, nose wrinkling in equal fervor. Glancing across at all the barrows, he couldn’t quite fathom it – Halo had different rituals – and there always seemed to be some ghost rising out of one of those, vindictive and baleful. [say]“I do not think so. And there has to be better ways of vengeance."[/say] Head tilting, he arched a brow at Dantalion in turn. [say]“Would you?”[/say] What happened to Ancients anyway – was it the stone thing, or something different?
Relief, especially after years of being on edge and ready for the next turn of chaotic and dangerous events, was still a struggle for the Sword. He’d manage eventually, as he had done in the following refrains after the last war, but for now, he still kept a list of necessities in his mind. They’d changed and altered, as par for the course, but he hadn’t forgotten the Ancient’s notions.
With a nod, he turned over his palms, gilded and glowing instantly, forming a copy of his own bag of holding – stretching and unwinding, expanding and lightening, until it circumvented directly into his hands, and he passed it over. [say]“Should be sufficient.”[/say] Though he’d obviously alter it again if it didn’t meet the Maverick’s credentials. [say]“And you are welcome.”[/say] Might as well have moments of granting and giving, rather than onslaughts and terror.
--
[say]Deimos has made:
Type: Grey | Style: Other | Level: Basic
Bag of Holding | A bag that can hold an infinite number of items, so long as they fit within the bag's 3ft x 3ft opening. The bag always feels nearly weightless, but always looks about 75% full.[/say]