[PQ] [se] sharp teeth

DEIMOS And in your darkest hour, I hold secrets flame Deimos hadn’t forgotten Vi’s request in all the chaos – but the people of Halo had been a priority, first and foremost. With some things already partially settled, under construction, or in process of being built, his sights could turn towards a familiar and vehement destruction. For there were other portions and pieces of threats still out there, and the Sword had no issue in ensuring they no longer existed. It was almost a relief to shed and unfurl and unleash some potency and violence, as if he could do more than worry, fret, and dread, and while he waited for everyone else to assemble, his rigid and formidable stance only kindled the notions of melee and power. Eyes flickered towards the pressing Bay nearby, and then to each of them as they arrived, nodding. “Thank you for coming,” to Hadama, Noah, Koa, and Paige in turn – though his eyes narrowed at the child he once knew, quite grown up. Koa was a different story, and while he understood the Dragoon was here to assist in the aftermaths, he did dread foolishness. “We can head out. I intend to at least vanquish what we can out here, and then see about other lands as well.” Long strides swept along the icy fixtures, as Belial soared overhead and Zuriel walked beside the Warden. “How is Torchline doing?” He asked Hadama first, as they walked beside the waters - Flora’s letter had made it sound far worse than Halo encountered. -- This is the PQ for plant murdering/probably an SE void creature encounter. This will also count towards assisting the Monster Hunter’s Guild. List what your character is bringing along, and we’ll head out across the Tundra! No post order! 1. Deimos 2. Noah 3. Paige 4. Hadama 5. Koa master of nothing place; of recoil and grace

Torchline was Hadama's first priority, but Flora had made an important point about the regions relying on each other more. If that meant sacrificing some sleep in order to help cleanse some of the infected creatures from Halo so he could ask for assistance in return then it was a small price to pay.

The mermanta swam grimly along the edge of the expanded bay, a few more lines worn into his face after the tragedies of Starfall, and an air of quiet exhaustion hanging over his head as he forged through the water beside the other members of Deimos's hunting party. He had his wand of healing and his Startide trident, as well as the armor Safrin had made for him before she'd left.

He nodded to Deimos in gratitude for the question that came as they traveled. "Torchline fares poorly," the mermanta admitted, too exhausted to be other than blunt. "We lost many to the tidal waves." The buildings could be rebuilt. Those that had died, however, could not be replaced. "Any assistance your Guild can provide against the new creatures will be welcome." There was enough struggle in burying and mourning and salvaging. Trying to keep the new infected flora and fauna away from the city - what remained of it below the floating islands - was stretching them to the breaking point.

---

Dama arrives with everything on his profile and a plea for help!

A joy hard-learned in winter was the warming of the bed
You'd shake for minutes there and move your legs

He'd not planned to stay long in Halo. Just drop off some Dragoons and make his way out, ideally before Deimos had a chance to singe off the rest of his hair. But then there's been word of a mission, and Dragoons had been invited to come, and... well, maybe he ought to have delegated this one, but they were stretched thin enough and Koa was determined to pick up the slack.

So he'd bundled up his arms and armaments (yes, the cursed chakram included) and made his way to the meeting point. Quiet and serious, he'd greeted Deimos with a curt nod and an offer to assist, grateful for the hat that covered his cropped hair. The overall mood wasn't one that encouraged chatter, and with disaster upon them the Dragoon hoped that the Sword would let bygones lie.

Koa's strides are long and quiet as he walks along near the back of their group. Though his time in Halo has been quite limited, even he knows that finding a bay pressing into the Tundra is Some Weird Fucking Shit, and that combined with sheer exhaustion has the boy uncharacteristically somber. Concern crushes his chest as he overhears Hadama explaining the damage in Torchline to Deimos, and Koa cannot help his feeling of powerlessness, the overwhelming sense that there's nothing he can do.

Koa Carpenter

Wrap the blanket over you and keep your head within
Let your breath heat the air until you'd feel it getting thin

will heaven step in?

Vi’s missive was clear, even in all the cloudy blackness of the rest of the worlds happenings and the threats that loomed. The god of life did not approve of the blossoming and growing void flora and fauna that appeared throughout Caido. He had given his demigod charge to destroy them, and Noah had spread that word. Helping Deimos set up this hunt was easy and he was more than willing to take the waden’s side in the task, happy that his friend was accompanying him on the larger scale mission his deity had for him.

There were some he knew and some he didn’t that would be coming with. Hadama, for one, was another friend and Noah was happy to see his name on the roster. He had greeted the merking with a smile and sympathies for the level of destruction that Torchline faced in the wake of the falling meteor. While he couldn’t promise any hands of Halo in an official capacity, he was more than willing to offer his own hands and promised he would come to help the coastal city.

Then, he fell in step with the others and headed out towards the enemy ahead of them.

---

Noah has all his abilities and small items, his fire quiver and bow, and his sun spear. No companions.

will it save us from our sin?

Paige

I guess sometimes we all get

She had gotten here shortly before disaster struck. Something she felt guilty about in a larger capacity than she was expecting. However, the Attuned was doing her best not to let it get to her. Paige was here and she was going to help in whatever way she could. This was just step one even if it wasn't for her homeland of Torchline.

Falling into step behind the others, but beside Hadama, Paige watched the two men before her walk with assured confidence towards whatever awaited them. With a few simple daggers at her hip and a small short sword sheathed on her back, the youngest of the group waited for any further information on what it was that they were doing out here aside from hopefully culling a threat.

---

Paige arrives with a short sword, two daggers, a general supply pack with all the basics.

Some kind of haunted

DEIMOS And in your darkest hour, I hold secrets flame The murmurs nearby were brief; solemn and complex, so Deimos could concentrate with his sights on the horizon and attention back to Hadama for a few moments intermingled along their travels. He’d heard the news briefly via letter from Flora, and then other dire straits from Remi, and so he inherently clenched his jaw, nodding, processing the information and the request. “I will see what I can do,” Halo had its own needs first and foremost, but once they were stable, he found no issue in directing others, and himself, towards mauling the void creatures amidst the coast. “Give us a few days or so and we can head there.” Especially once they’d figured out how successful they could be. They’d be in luck anyway, or whatever fortune was called nowadays – no sooner had they crossed over another tundra line, would Koa be able to spot the glowing, eerie ethereal frostblooms, pulsing nearby. Thereafter, so would the rest, and Deimos began his litany of warnings as he pointed towards the plant. “These should not be touched.” He’d know – he’d done it. “Anything you can use at a longer range will hopefully be more effective.” Which was why he turned to stare at the disturbing beacons, and immediately strived to set them ablaze with Mastered Fire incantations. -- The group has discovered a cluster of five frostblooms! Use what you have available to attack them! No post order! Success may be determined based on rolls and IC decisions. Ethereal Frostbloom (Common): Once a delicate and otherworldly flower that thrived in the icy landscapes of Halo, the Ethereal Frostbloom has fallen victim to the encroaching void. Its petals, which once sparkled like freshly fallen snow, now emit an eerie, pulsating glow. The frosty fragrance has twisted into a chilling scent that seems to pierce through the coldest winds. Encountering the Ethereal Frostbloom sends a shiver down the spine, as it draws energy from the void, freezing the surrounding environment and everything in its vicinity. master of nothing place; of recoil and grace

"Thank you," Hadama said quietly: to Noah and to Deimos both. He did not begrudge them the need to see to Halo first. That they would come when they were able was enough.

He nodded to Paige as she fell in beside him, and he slowed his swimming to match her walking pace. Soon enough they had a target for their frustrations over the void-related problems that had descended - quite literally in the case of Torchline - upon them.

The Tidebreaker listened intently to the warnings and recommendations, nodding slowly. He considered the frostblooms for a long, thoughtful moment before choosing his weapon. Not wanting to risk putting Deimos's fire out with his trident, Hadama instead opted for crafting a blade from ice with Mastered Water and sending it flying over the intervening distance to try and cut the flowers off at the base.

---

Hadama uses Mastered Water Manipulation to create an ice-blade and manipulate it into cutting the flowers down.

will heaven step in?

Noah didn't spend much time talking as they stalked the tundra for their prey. He kept his ears partially shifted to be able to catch anything that could be a threat from afar. The snow crunched beneath his boots as he walked. Ahead of them a pulsing purple presence made Noah's skin crawl and a guttural, bear-like growl to rumble deep in his throat. Deimos was the first to strike with fire, Hadama following with the opposite. Noah took the opportunity to bring his own fire to the situation.

Using his spear, Noah sent a 15-foot arc of fire towards the precarious cluster of variant frostblooms. If he was able to help the Sword in singing them entirely that would be a success on their part. But, if anything he did was only added on to the warden's fire, that would be enough too.

---

Noah attacks the frostblooms with his sun spear.

Type: Light | Style: Offensive | Level: Basic
Sun Spear | An ornate lightweight but sturdy spear that constantly glistens as if caught in a beam of sunlight. Shoots an arc of fire of up to 15ft.

will it save us from our sin?

A joy hard-learned in winter was the warming of the bed
You'd shake for minutes there and move your legs

The walk is largely uneventful - that is, until it's not. "Something ahead," Koa announces as the flowers come into view, slowing his pace and checking that his companions, too, have seen the strange blooms. "They look like they've got the infection," he grimaces, not needing to be told twice to keep a healthy distance. Just the sight sends shivers down his spine, the beautiful danger of the corrupted things a discordant melody in his mind.

Koa watches in impressed awe as magic is hurled the flowers' way, and does his best not to feel rather unimpressive by comparison. Taking out his bow, he knocks an arrow, letting the electricity from his ring course through it before sending it flying into the flower patch. It isn't much, but maybe with the water Hadama's sent it'll cause a decent amount of damage. From his shoulder, Pip chirps encouragement - though she's also disappointed he won't let her go burn it, but fuck if his dragon is getting anywhere near those things.

---

Koa uses his ring to fire an electrified arrow

Type: Light | Style: Offensive | Level: Basic
Static Electricity | A ring that when worn adds lightning damage to whatever item is held in that hand (or to an unarmed strike).

Koa Carpenter

Wrap the blanket over you and keep your head within
Let your breath heat the air until you'd feel it getting thin

Paige

I guess sometimes we all get

Well shit.

Paige felt entirely under prepared. She didn't know the thing they were going to be hunting was something she needed to attack from a distance. Hell, she was thinking that she might be able to at least serve as bait in her other form, but this was not what she was expecting. Her brows pinch together and she grabs a dagger from her hip, attempting to line up a shot with the flowers, knowing full well that she was likely going to miss or lose her dagger in the gout of flames currently licking towards the glowing fire.

---

Paige tries to use her dagger to hit the plants.

Some kind of haunted

DEIMOS And in your darkest hour, I hold secrets flame It was a varnishing and siege upon toxic, nefarious plants – any outsider would likely think the barrage of fire, water, electricity, and daggers would be overkill, but with threats looming and rising, no one could be too careful or cautious about the potential spread of disease. They melded and molded together, some far more successful than others, but ultimately cutting and decimating, marring and scarring, until the Sword could see not much was left in the wake of their destruction. “Well done,” he turned to his compatriots. “There are not many left,” in that crop anyway. Deimos figured they could then move onto another, taking the vegetation out bit by bit until only the most subversive remained – and then, they too could be mauled in some way or another. But as one might have feared or dreaded, all that commotion, action, and fixtures would attract attention from other means, measures, and animals. Ahead, Koa and Hadama would be able to spot the movements of predators – though these weren’t any ordinary ursur. -- All attacks have hit upon the frostblooms! But two ursurs are approaching! They are currently about 10 yards away from the group. What will you do next? No post order! Please put at the bottom of your post as to which plant your character is attacking and/or what they’re doing with the ursur information. Frostbloom One: 0/100 Frostbloom Two: 51/100 Frostbloom Three: 0/100 Frostbloom Four: 0/100 Frostbloom Five: 90/100 master of nothing place; of recoil and grace

The tattooed mermanta had raised up a column of water beneath himself to get a better view of the following attacks that were launched towards the unnatural bouquet. It might have been chance that drew his sapphire eye towards the great tusked bears beyond, but as soon as he saw them his jaw firmed and he called out, voice calm but carrying: "Two ursur. To the east." He was unfamiliar with the wild bears in their homeland, but he had seen Noah shift into an ursur once when they were training. He knew what they should look like, at least in a general sense. But he had also heard Flora's tale of the infected Fyrhund in the Climb, and he felt the webbing of his ears and fingers prickle with an uneasy premonition...

"They are... strange. Do not let them mark you," he warned, gathering his magic. They were at the very outer edge of his reach, but he cast his water manipulation to freeze around their paws, attempting to slow their advance and buy the rest of the hunting party more time to react.

---

Hadama calls a warning about the ursur and uses Mastered Water Manipulation to try and freeze their paws to the ground to slow them down.

will heaven step in?

Noah didn’t know about Flora’s experience in the Climb and the way that she had been injured that could only be healed by a god.

But he did know ursur, and infected with the touch and tendrils of the void or not, they were still dangerous, opportunistic predators. Hadama’s alert, then, made Noah react quickly. Without having to move from his position, he was able to shoot an arc of fire from his spear at the frostblooms while his far-off assault to the ursur took care of itself.

Between the group and the incoming ursur, a great stag formed. Shining brilliantly with all of the sun’s radiance, the stag shook its mighty head and charged for the pair of ursur. It’s soundless hooves raced across the tundra with deadly intent, shown in its lowered antlers ready to strike with white-hot rage.

---

Noah sends his spirit stag to charge the ursur pair and hopefully deter them from coming closer to the group, and hopefully deal some damage, while also shooting another arc of fire from his spear at the first few frostblooms.

~

Magic: Spirit Stag | Can summon the spirit of a mighty stag; an echo of Noah's former shift. This will last for 1 post per thread and appears to be made of pure sunlight. Noah can direct the stag to charge at a target, dealing fire damage and causing disadvantage on their next roll.
Type: Light | Rank: Upgraded

Magic: Wise Hunter (FEAT) | Animals roll with disadvantage against Noah.
Type: Light | Rank: Basic

will it save us from our sin?

Paige

I guess sometimes we all get

Yep. She was severely underprepared.

Why hadn't Ludo made her first shift something more useful than a tiny little weasel? Fuck, she should have been more specific, but she had been young. How could she have known that she'd be fighting void touched Ursur? That's right, she couldn't have!

Cursing under her breath, the Attuned turns her attention back to the flowers, deciding that the big boys could handle that particular problem. Instead she took up her other dagger, realizing that she would be basically unarmed after throwing it at one of the remaining flowers, but what could she do. Obviously she couldn't just do nothing.

---

Paige curses the fact that she doesn't have better defenses and throws another dagger at Frostbloom Two.

Some kind of haunted