• Graded • [Faldrass] Fire-Forged Group C

[Nir'wei]

His absence caused concern. That wasn't surprising. The fact that such a heartfelt message came from someone he barely even knew, perhaps a little more surprising - enough to make him pause, just briefly, to hear it in full. However, there was one fatal problem. He was hurt. Like it or not. At least under the cover of his self-imposed anonymity, he'd been free from the reminders of his past - it had seemed the only way to avoid shining light on that painful topic had been to shroud everything in darkness. Perhaps it was his fault for letting his grasp loose. For putting trust in strangers. Now someone knew the truth, and they'd done exactly what he'd expected - abused it - but not even for something like personal gain, no. For personal enjoyment. Making his tragedy into their own personal comedy, oh, that really twisted the knife.

It didn't help that Max wasn't the only reason, even if she was the main one, for his dramatic exit. He didn't want to be in the same room as Kura and Zach, while they fought over power and allegiances like children over their favourite toys. Especially when they focused on him. At that reminder, his feet started moving again.

Outside the room, he pushed his way past the throng of guards to find Max already turned back towards him, squared off in the corridor. Heavy armour didn't exactly make him as fleet-footed as he normally was, but then again, sneak-attacks had never been his thing either, particularly when it came down to something like this. No, no. This was all about a pure, unadulterated show of force. This was about punishment. At the mere hint that they might be finally earning what they craved, the chorus of wolf snarls in the back of his head grew in volume and lowered in pitch, until they were practically venomous. His grip tightened on the crystalline sword. Would she still be able to make such smug comments with it sticking out of her shoulder?

Probably so. Even now, she seemed to have a knack for making barbed comments that hooked right where it hurt, but this time, he didn't bother with a comeback. He didn't even internalise the words. Just more empty insults meant to... meant to what, exactly? Goad him into fighting even more, as if he wasn't already clearly out for blood? Or was it just lip service, to stroke her own ego and psyche herself up? All just hollow, meaningless noise. The only thing that mattered was whether he wanted to risk interruption by fighting in the Baron's house and inviting his intervention. If he could spare six guards for Max, how many more did he have at his disposal for those that damaged his property and spoiled the carpet?

"Outside." Whether she intended to oblige him or not, he strode towards her in measured paces, letting his sword remain exactly where it was... and the collection of spirits surrounding him hold their gaze level with Max, in case she decided that now, of all times, was the right moment to make her first move.

[Pegasus]

120th Ashan, 720

They grabbed their gear and they began to get ready. Max, of course, had left. Nir'wei, then, left and Lavana went out too. Zach turned to look but, Nir'wei had been clear. He just needed some air. "Alright. So, we give them a few minutes. In the meantime, perhaps it would be sensible to discuss skills and what we can bring to the group, yes? Also, any specific things which we should know." He looked around at them and said, with the slightest, tight lipped smile. "I'm in telepathic contact with the Baron. It makes sense, therefore, if someone else has this echo scroll. I'd suggest you," he said this to Abigail, and handed her the scroll. If she needed it explained, then he'd explain how to use it.

Then, he gestured.

With Nir'wei and Max, though, there were guards around and nearby but they were disinclined to get involved, since their remit was to simply escort her. They kept an eye, however. At the moment, no one was doing more than posturing, so they watched. Lavana, with no skills in the art of stealth and armour on, of course, was obviously not hiding and was able to be seen. Whether Max and Nir'wei noticed her, or not, was a different thing - but the guards certainly knew she was there.

!	Message from: peg
	Ok so we remain stalled. The situation between Nir'wei and Max needs to be resolved. Players from this group are now in two separate areas Nir'wei, Max, Lavana - you are together in the hallway while all other players are in the room. Players in the room can not hear / see / etc what's going in the hallway. Next mod-post is on the 22nd Feb

[Natalie Cooper]

Where I Left Off

Just to keep my train of thought, copy pasting here where my last post was left off.

"It seemed Zach just ignored her question, so it must've been a dumb one. She sighed as she continued through the book, only half listening to the various conversations going on. That is, at least until Zach said it was time to go. Finally. She hopped off the table, stowing her book in the top of her pack, and lifting it up and onto her shoulders. Abigail then heard the one man, Nor'wei she thought his name was when he'd given it, decide he needed some air. She could only roll her eyes."

Abigail listened to when Zach spoke, asking for them to share more about themselves. A few more minutes to prepare, to get to know one another better. It seemed that Kura and Ela and Balthazar were the only ones choosing to remain in the room for it. Abigail moved over toward Balthazar, being that he was the only one that she knew. They'd met back in the Spirit of Adventure, by far her most favorite little shop she'd discovered on this island. She also knew he was a mage. He had those nifty little portals. And could fly. Far more useful than anything she could do.

Reaching out to touch his arm, she smiled at him, "Crazy trial eh? I thought I had stumbled upon a party, and now we're trying to save Scalvoris. Though certainly off to a rocky start." She laughed a bit at this, looking toward Zach, "I'm an aspiring painting and archaeology student, but only recently started so I'm not particularly good at either. I'm not sure that I bring much of anything useful to the group other than a desire to help and a willingness to follow your orders, Zach."

She was offered the Echo Scroll and she took it willingly, listening to his explanation as to how it worked. Seemed fairly straight forward. She moved over to the table, pulling her book on the Scalvoris flora and fauna out. She opened the cover to the first page, smoothing out the scroll across the first page, tucking in both the top and bottom ends into the pages below. She hoped this would keep it easily accessible and usable, and somewhat safe. Might be hard to find tables and desks down beneath the volcano.

Using a piece of sketching charcoal, she wrote across the top of the scroll, "Testing testing. This is Abigail Baker, part of the group led by Zach. Checking that the Echo Scroll functions as it should, and confirming who is on the other end." And so she sat back and waited on a reply, while listening to what others said in response to Zach.

[Balthazar Black]

120 Ashan 720

Yet there was further interruption and so Balthazar had not yet posed his question to Zach about how much of the cavern he'd explored on his own. Balthazar could only pace and flip aimlessly through the pages of the flora and fauna book for so long before becoming bored. There were more interesting things he could dedicate his time to learning but he wasn't sure that they'd be more productive than the reading was. After the book had been put away, Balthazar seemed to fix his eyes on Zach but it was not just his eyes that he'd focused on their guide, it was also his newest spark. The spark that gave his eyes the slight look of a puzzle that had been put back together. He'd spent enough time familiarizing himself with his surroundings to know he'd not be able to attune to the manor as a whole without a tour so he decided to focus on attuning to those around him- particularly the smaller number who had remained in the room. He chose Zach first.

A more skilled Attuner would have been able to detect the notes of anger, distrust, and lethal intention building in the room but Balthazar was no such mage. He could only focus on a handful of things and he had few to no notes within his immediate symphony to relate too. So he left the situation with Lavana, Nir, and Max to be handled however it was to be handled and waited in the room with the rest who had chosen to remain and try to actually help the island. Balthazar couldn't help but wonder if they were condemning everyone on the island by humoring the arguments but Zach had yet to leave the slow behind so Balthazar said nothing immediately of it. Trills passed and Balthazar kept his focus on Zach, trying to open himself to Zach's frequency. Balthazar didn't know how the telepathic link to the Baron would be represented in Zach's frequency but he was curious. Then Zach posed the question to those in the room about what they could do and Abigail answered first.

Balthazar didn't hear the first few words Abigail said over the sound of Zach's frequency singing in his ears as Balthazar tried to attune to it but he managed to put the frequency aside to listen to the woman. That effort alone made Balthazar question whether or not it was a good decision to attune to the room. He didn't know how he'd be affected by tracking multiple active frequencies but he had nothing better to do at the moment. "It has been an interesting trial indeed." Balthazar replied, trying to mask that he hadn't been paying attention to the first few words she said to him before introducing her skills to Zach again.

"As I said, I've some sway with the elements. I'm a Defier... and a Rupturer... and an Attuner." Balthazar put his card on the table after Abigail had- wait not all of them "And I'm currently trying to attune to the people in this room but given the coming and going it is a little difficult." That and the fact that Balthazar knew he'd only be able to really connect with three of them before his spark overwhelmed him. There was a lot running through his mind as soon as Balthazar had attuned to Zach and begun trying to open himself to Abigail and Balthazar took a few deep breaths to try and help organize it. Then, still concerned about the tremors- of which he'd yet to experience, that the Baron had been worried about. He didn't stop to examine Zach's frequency once he'd attuned to it because he knew he would have the time to do so later and because he wasn't exactly interested in the notes (thought he was very curious), as much as he was interested in the ability to keep track of the people he had attuned to... even if it was a very rough method of doing so.

"Does the Baron have any thoughts on what is happening? I only ask because I'm thought this was a urgent mission and... we've devolved into squabbles I don't think will be resolved without blood or a firm hand." Balthazar inquired innocently. He wasn't suggesting that they leave those who wanted to bicker but he was concerned that their inactivity would give the forces working against them more time to prepare. Now Balthazar didn't necessarily want to go ahead with less physical support but when the options seemed to come down to waiting for the other volunteers to finish fighting each other (at least Balthazar assumed that to be Nir'wei's intent when he left after Max) or venturing on ahead, Balthazar would have voted to move on. After all, if they failed- anyone who didn't have an immediate way off the island stood to be killed anyways? Right?

[Max]

In her peripheral vision, Max noted the apparent indifference of the house guards. A few drops of alcohol in her system was unforgivable, but suiting up and brandishing a sword inside the Baron's estate was perfectly acceptable. Her jaw tightened at the idiosyncratic response but she voiced no protest. The Elements had never done much for her. There was no reason to expect anything from overpaid house servants either.

Her dark eyes watched Nir'wei's fingers tighten on his sword before he tensely bid her outside. He turned his back to her, a fatal error, but the Rusalka did not exploit it. Her gaze shifted past him toward the room from which he'd come, lingering for a moment. Then she caught sight of Lavana coming in at Nir'wei's heels and her expression turned grim again. Of course the traitor would follow in hopes she too could draw Maxine's blood. After a murmur to Good, bidding him to return to the safety of familiar faces should they have use for him, the cursed woman turned and followed the pack leader at a distance. Once outside, she took several paces away from the man holding the strange sword and the woman with the most punchable face in Idalos. She squared to them and rooted her feet in the soil.

"I know you'll never fight me like a man," Maxine stated after taking a long pull on her joint. There was not so much as a scent of honor attached to the man on the other side of the field. "So this is how it's gonna be, huh? You, her, and your zoo of imaginary friends." Another pause to indulge herself in her vice. In a nearby tree, a crow cawed, blinking down at her from where it perched upon its lonely branch. Max looked at it for but a mere trill. A soft, brisk wind teased at the edges of her cloak. The quiet laugh she offered was hollow and lifeless.

These last few trills belonged to her. She enjoyed them quietly, letting the end of her joint burn brightly and fill her lungs with smoke until it was too short to hold. She pitched the Ambrosia to her feet and twisted the finished joint into the ground under her heel. A slow roll of white smoke drifted in one, savoring plume from her nose and mouth. The cloak around her shoulder was tossed to the side. She remembered the cursed tattoo inked around her neck, and an indiscernible twitch of emotion crossed her face for but a fraction of a trill. Then it was over. All of it.

"Alright then." A chill moved across her skin when she tugged her gladius from its sheath, the coolness of the hilt in her hand moving through her body. For some reason it felt heavier to-trial. Bright, azure flames moved along the blade's surface, lively and starved. Maxine couldn't remember how she acquired the weapon, but like everything else, it didn't seem to matter now. Storm clouds, great and heavy, loomed overhead. "Do what you gotta do."

A great and terrible gale wind stirred to life out of seemingly no where, encouraging the infamous Ashan Storm on the horizon to roar to life on Faldrass. Liberated from her pocket, Maxine's left hand coaxed a plain silver bracelet onto her wrist. She was ready now. Gladius in hand, Maxine began her solo walk toward Nir'wei.

"We're never alone," a familiar voice purred in her ear, repeating what was said quite some time ago when the being had first manifested. "But I wish we were." Engorged and strengthened by the cycles of destruction Maxine has caused without siphoning its power, the Diri of Destruction finally did stir. Wispy, inky tendrils spiraled up from Maxine's own moving shadow. In a blink, a shadowy replica with crimson glowing eyes was walking beside the Rusalka. In its hands it wielded a sword and axe, both of which had seen plenty of blood. Perhaps it was as right as it was fitting, that the only ally that showed for her now was a mirror image of herself.

And, together, both shades of Maxine eagerly approached to greet the fate that awaited them.

[Lavana Tharn]

Lavana had made it outside each foot fall felt like an eternity as adrenaline was starting to kick through her veins, she felt anxious and light headed but steadied her nerves to articulate herself. As a leader she needed to sway the hearts and minds of those around her to draw blades in her favor, a tactical mind saw Maxines guards as an expendable resource for the conflict that was about to rise.

Once again the rusulkas bull headed self reliance was her greatest achilles heel. She’d seen it herself when she brawled the hounds, always on her own clawing away till inevitable exhaustion and defeat it was a lesson Lavana had seen first hand.

There was a sharp wind that howled it was a gale force that was picking up in turbulence it was difficult to move without the threat of being thrown off balance but the mortal borns heft of steel plate kept her grounded while discipline was her ally allowing her stay calm and focused, while her pixie cut kept her hair out of her face so as not to be obstructed in combat as the throws of the whirlwind could toss her hair in either direction. She recognized the danger of flailing debris, but pressed forward there were two Maxines One comprised of shadow and the other that looked like Maxine, it was a safe bet to try and interact with the one that didn’t look like an inky version of her salty mate.

Qylious’s mark of cerulion was quick to shoot towards Max, if accepted the established bond created a telepathic link between the Rusulka and the mortal born to establish that she was an ally in this and that if this was the end so be it she’d see it through to finality.

She had to yell as to have her importuned voice be heard across the bellows of the crashing tides of wind.

”Nirwei! You have disobeyed a direct order from the Alberach! And have initiated a confrontation that is jeopardizing countless lives of those on Faldrass!

This is an outrage!

Guards! I beseech you!

Those you love hang in the balance of what you do this brightening! Draw arms as Max’s escort! And apprehend this traitor, before its to late!”

Lavana would give no pause, no quarter for a response as she’d try to rally the guards to her side by merit of the chain of command as guardsman sworn to uphold there civic as the mortal born white knighted herself and clamored for the proverbial moral high ground.

But the truth was the mortal born would give nir’wei no time to back down, no time to see reason in the fault of his actions. Lavana would insanely push to provoke this fight, she would wrap herself in the shroud of valor righteousness and honor if only to use it to dismantle the mission and tear it apart at the seam and leave ruination in the aftermath of its wake.

Six guards in total, even just a few to heed her call could tip the balance as Lavana kept her weapon sheathed in its metal scabbard. She was not far from Nir’wei but not close enough to strike at him even with the reach of her claymore, he was at the very most ten feet away as Lavana had been trying to coax the guards into action.

Although the imperial deserter had not attempted to brandish her sword sometimes well placed words could be more formidable then drawn steel, what one person could not do on there own many could avail that was the true power of leadership.

Lavana was still behind Nir’wei and hadn’t yet jumped into the fray, busy attempting to rally arms to her cause like a hero however she was anything but.

Even if the guards simply shit there pants and fled, Lavana was sending a message in a bottle. Nir’wei had broken the chain of command and was now assaulting a member of the party. Maybe they’d be smart some would stay and others would flee to gather there comrades only time would tell if her attempt would avail tangible results

[Nir'wei]

She seemed to see at least eye-to-eye for a moment, since she followed him outside without any further notice - strange, how even in times like these, unspoken agreements remained unquestioned. Then again, now was not the time to start challenging it. Surely they both realised that they'd caused more than enough of a delay. Better to just get down to it and move on with their lives afterwards. His wolfish senses picked up just a hint of leathery wings flapping nearby before they vanished; Traveller was somewhere in the air already, flying free as he so often did in his spare moments. For now, he left the beast well enough alone, but he knew Traveller wouldn't be far. He tended to enjoy these things from a distance. Some remnant of what might have been eagle in his blood. Shortly after he stepped outside, Greyhide appeared at his side, watching Maxine with wary and untrusting eyes, but his thoughts elsewhere. Someone's been following us. Lavana? The hell did she want? Didn't matter. Just as a precaution, however, the elder wolf threw a short snarl at the platemail backstabber before hurling his head back and unleashing a howl, calling for aid from the forest and its eyes.

So far, her actions hadn't done her words justice. To avoid succumbing to the same fate, he'd opted to remain quiet; but one particular barb earned a small laugh of his own, tinted with surprise. "A man, huh. What, you want me to fight 'fair'?" She couldn't possibly see the expression he held under his armour, but he was confident she could hear it in his voice. "This is the real world. The law of nature. The only thing that matters at the end is which one of us is standing, and which one isn't. No honour, or fairness, or whatever else you want to call it is going to change that." He sucked in a slow, deep breath to calm the faint jitters in his limbs while she admired the last moments of calm. The calm before the storm. Unconsciously, he felt a wolf pelt appear under his armour - a reaction of his toughened skin to weather the less severe aspects of the storm that Cyshe couldn't already manage.

His focus should have been on her and her alone as she prepared herself and the winds picked up to an almost supernatural degree, but there was someone still yelling at the back of his head. Yelling that he'd disobeyed a direct order, as if he was to be expected to stand down and jeopardize the entire mission for the sake of someone that openly tore down what little cohesion they had as a group. Jeopardizing the citizens of Faldrass, though? Hardly. Max had already left the group and if Zach had already dismissed her for her attitude, did she really think that she'd be allowed into another group instead? That they wouldn't catch on? Kura and Max were both kidding themselves believing that. She'd be better off sitting down in the briefing room with a nice cup of tea and waiting until the rest of them finished up.

As for him, well. He'd be back inside shortly. Or he wouldn't. Either way, the rest of them were free to continue without him. He wasn't the one openly standing in the way, defying Zach's orders and preventing the rest of them from venturing into the caves. Just taking a breather. Just letting off some steam. Did that really make him a traitor and a treasoner, worthy of assault and imprisonment? He hardly believed so.

He was the innocent party in this.

But it didn't make her presence, or her words, any less irritating. If she chose an inopportune moment to side with Maxine, it could prove problematic, possibly dangerous.

Maxine didn't seem intent on holding anything back. He wouldn't either. As her shadow split from her body and manifested alongside her, Nir'wei braced himself as a furry form pressed up from underneath, manifesting directly between his legs and rising him high into the air - until he sat atop a hulking azure Zephyrus with bright, gleaming eyes and sparkling horn leveled at the pair of opponents. He didn't trust himself trying to mount her from the ground in such gales. Flanking her on either side, two wolves formed, Greyhide returning to his place among the pack with them, lips pulled back into sneers. At the small of his back, gripping Vabina's fur for support, the smallest but the most unknown of them all, Sage manifested with a strange screech, like three distinct voices overlapping one-another, in unison but not in harmony. He was as ready as he was going to ever be. But there was one thing he needed to deal with first. "Where is she." His mental connection thrummed gently at the question. Thank goodness for squirrel-eyes in the back of his head, or she might have had a clue of what was coming next. Directly behind you. Stone's throw.

He could do better than a stone. Seven eyes set forward and two eyes back, Nir'wei turned in place. At least five foot elevation, if not more. It was lucky she hadn't chosen to stand further away, or the gale might have affected the balance. "This is not a spectator sport," he announced to her simply, raising his sword - a simple sword, far shorter than her claymore and without a chance of reaching her - but in his hand it changed, the blade growing shorter and the handle slowly lengthening, twisting and pulling back as Cyshe shared his thoughts and molded to his desires. By the time he'd turned to face her, it wasn't a sword in his hands anymore, but a bow - with a slightly blunted spirit arrow already nocked, drawn from thin air.

He drew it back to his cheek, in full draw, and fired a single shot directly for the face, just above the bridge of her nose.

[Pegasus]

120th Ashan, 720

And so, they were outside. The guards held back, not willing to get into a fight unless they had been instructed specifically - besides, there were a lot of armed and armoured people around. They'd been told to escort Maxine off the premises and that was what they did.

Then, Maxine utilised one of her Rusalka abilities, and the winds began to howl. Trees bent and all those inside the house heard the howling, screaming winds as windows rattled in their frames. Within very few seconds, the noise was such that they didn't really get to hear each other talking - or posturing, depending on one's point of view.

!

Message from: Windstorm

A skill that allows the Rusalka to raise a terrible, but localized, wind against their enemies, the winds of this ability are no minor breeze, but rather a gale that can fling objects around, bend trees and collapse ships. However, not even Chrien can control the winds, so this ability can be almost as dangerous to the Rusalka as to their foes, for while the Rusalka is immune to the winds, they aren't immune to flying debris. This ability can only be used once a trial, covers an area about 500 feet in diameter and lasts for a break.

It quickly became

overwhelming

- for all of them as Max moved towards Nir'wei, the wind did not bother her but the flying debris, garden furniture and so on, very much bothered them all, especially Max and Lavana

both

of whom got hit by flying debris. As Maxine moved forward, as Lavana tried to speak to the guards, both of them got battered by heavy wooden chairs from the garden. Hitting against them, some of the wood broke and both women got cuts and splinters to a quite nasty degree, in a localised area. This impacted

Lavana

more than

Maxine

but both women felt it.

Lavana and Nir'wei, of course, also had to fight against the wind and this impacted

both

their movements. Lavana first gestured and then a glowing band appeared around Max's arm, bonding the two women together.

!	Message from: Minor Bond
	The Favored can Bond with 1 other person. In doing so the Bonded individual gains a single glowing band around their left forearm. The Bond remains as long as both the Favored and the Bonded allow it. The Bond only functions within 300 feet of the Favored, and dissipates shortly beyond that distance.

At the moment that it happened, Maxine and Lavana began to share a kind of kinship.

!	Message from: Bound In Battle
	The Favored and those Bonded with them are better able to fight together. Their tactics and movements flow almost seamlessly with little-to-no spoken communication. The Bond passes insights and slight thoughts between those Bonded while in combat together.

That union solidified, Lavana made an appeal to the guards, her

leadership

something which she attempted to utilise to it's fullest. However, the situation was such that they felt much more at risk than they were prepared to engage in. None of the three of them heard what the guards said but the combination of the sudden howling winds, the flying items of furniture and debris from plant life, and the glowing shadow dopple-max and massive influx of animals appearing meant that the guards decided to do their job.

And guard the house.

Within very few seconds, going back in was no longer an option (not that the three seemed inclined to take it) as they would be greeted by a closed door.

As this happened, so too Nir'wei moved. He spoke to Lavana, but he could barely hear his own words, much less her hear them - the winds were too great. The

well-trained

archer fired and his arrow. It was near enough point-blank range, but the raging wind of course was an issue. However, his bow was no ordinary bow.

!

Message from: Spiritborn Weapon

The bond with between the Warden and the Diri have now become seamless. The Diri can now physically shift into any weapon that the Warden needs or desires. This weapon will behave as if it is made of masterwork material, blades will seem as if made of adamantite as they will cut cleaner and sharper than steel. Bows, arrows, and the like will be equipped with an endless supply of equally sharp arrows that appear out of thin air. These projectiles seem to be made of spiritual energy. Bludgeoning weapons will also feel light as feathers but hit opponents like they are made of solid metal. One weapon may be summoned at any given time and any of these weapons will seem to cause an additional searing pain to those struck by them that are enemies of the Warden. If dropped the weapon will vanish into thin air and the Diri will reappear in their normal form. They can transform into a new weapon once ten trills have passed. The Warden must hold out their open hand in order to summon the weapon. You may use Spiritborn Armor and Spiritborn Weapon at the same time as the Diri is still connected to the body of the Warden the entire time.

The spirit arrow flew straight and true. Slightly blunted it might be, but it was also aiming straight for Lavana's unprotected face.

As the arrow flew, the volcano grumbled and the ground beneath them shook. For all of those involved - in all groups - the ground heaved and Faldrass island began to experience what would have been measured as a significant earthquake. Of course, this was the first three seconds of it. But such it was.

!

Message from: peg

Ok so we remain stalled. The three PVPers have rules below. The non-pvp'ers, you MAY (you are not required to post) respond if you wish. There is the screaming wind, and the first three seconds of an earthquake. Realistically - by the time you get outside, even if you ran, this fight will almost certainly be over. If, however, your character is going to attempt to get outside, let me know. Also - once the PvPers have posted, I'm going to post again, because we need to sort this out asap. Thanks.

PvP Rules

1. All three participants have agreed that this is a PvP where death is a very strong likelihood. Please also be aware that, should you live - there are going to be consequences for all concerned
2. I will give you consequences in each post. For example, Max and Lav have consequences from the debris this round. I expect you to play those in your next post.
3. In your post, please make sure that you are clear about how you react to what has happened, and then detail your action. Each post from this point on should include TWO actions at most. Please note that the following each constitute one action:
   • Defending against an attack.
   • Attacking.
   • Monologuing
   • Using an ability / item etc
   • Using a skill - some may take more than one action (stopping to draw a landscape of the scene, for example) - check with me if you're unsure
4. I need you to be clear. If you are aiming for a specific location etc - then I need you to tell me in your post.

Windstorm

Each round I will roll 1d20 for each person for the debris.
1 - 5 = no impact
6 - 10 = minimal impact
11 - 15 = significant impact
16 - 20 = damaging impact

Nir'wei and Lavana also have to combat the wind. I'm using three skills to determine how well they do this.

Skill	Lavana	Nir'wei
Strength - to fight against it.	27/250 Competent	26/250 Competent
Endurance - to withstand it.	27/250 Competent	76/250 Expert
Acrobatics - to move with it.	27/250 Competent	25/250 Novice
TOTAL	27/250 Competent	42/250 Competent

Rounds

Round 1:

• Max summoned Windstorm and her Diri of Destruction. She drew her gladius and put on her bracelet. Then, she walked towards Nir'wei.
  • Damage Yes. Significant damage to a single area (player choice)- will need stitches, can currently ignore but it's an annoyance - from the debris.
• Lavana spoke to Nir'wei, implored the guards to act. She has not drawn any weapons. She put a Qylios bond on Max.
  • Damage Yes. Significant damage to a single area (player choice)- will need stitches, it will hinder your movements from pain, but not stop them. Consider yourself "at a minus" - from the debris.
• Nir'wei His animals appeared, he's riding Vabina. Using his Warden Diri, he fired an arrow at Lavana's face.
  • Damage None

Please note: I understand that Nir'wei had written more into his actions but we're starting the new round at the point that Nir'wei has released his first arrow. The current situation is:
Max and Diri are moving towards Nir - he's on a bleddy big Vabina, animals have appeared.
Nir has just shot at Lav, animals have appeared.
Lav has just been shot at.

In your next post please do the following:

• React as you would - do any of the pre-amble stuff up to the point that the arrow flies. Please note, though, you can't be changing what you've done in this round.
• Use your two actions (see above). Write these assuming that you get to make them both - but please do not assume the outcome. Please note that none of your actions are completed until my next mod post confirms them (so, for instance, Lav - if you don't dodge the arrow, that might impact your second action, etc).

There now IS a posting order. In order to keep fairness and consistency we will post:
Max
Lavana
Nir'wei
As per the round above. I would ask that you prioritise this thread as it is currently stalling others and I will do the same.

[Max]

The corners of her lips had twitched in a condescending smirk at talk of "real world" and "law of nature." She saw his words for what they were: justification. He'd bid her to follow him outside with an entourage of fangs clinging to him like he was behind bars with his pockets hanging out. He challenged her, blade drawn and armor donned, not because he believed he was singularly robust enough to smite her. His confidence came from the protection of a shielding myriad of four-legged friends. He could never best her on an even battlefield. Nir'wei acted on his weeping ego because, with a swell of numbers, he firmly believed he would win.

It took an entire flock of crows to make a murder.

Maxine had seen plenty of the world. It was an ugly, demented, and twisted reality she trudged through. It had never been kind to her. It had never been fair. If this was it, if her blood was to water this field, she would die just as she lived: meeting what came head-on and spitting defiantly in its face. She would ask no one to fight this battle for her. It was better this way. That was her nature. She would not change these founding pieces of herself. Not even to save her own life.

That's cute.

The cursed Rusalka's advance had not wavered in the face of the giant mount that rose between Nir'wei's legs or the beginnings of his pack's manifestation. The armored zookeeper sat high on his weird, large companion like a one man cavalry. The Diri of Destruction didn't seem to stir at the sight of the posturing either. They were in the thick of it now. It was too late to turn back. For however long it lasted, her mirror image was going to soak up every trill of carnage wreaked here.

You've got to be fucking kidding me.

Over the gale wind she managed to make out a handful of Lavana's soliloquy. The mortalborn hadn't ventured out of the Baron's residence to help Nir'wei cut her down. She'd evidently followed to oppose that intention. Loudly. If she'd the blessing of time, she'd saunter over her way instead to throttle the woman. The whiplash she got from the woman's two faces was borderline exhausting. The effort was a wasted one. Max could've told her ahead of time that the guards would not place themselves in peril. Not for someone with her rap sheet at least.

The stray wooden chair that flung across the lawn to smash into Maxine wasn't met with much resistance. Tumbling along the grass, the blunt chair back knocked against Chrien's adored follower's thigh. It earned little more than an irritable exhale before it whipped around her body to continue in the wind. The protection offered by both Chrien's catsuit and the wind armor she wore absorbed most of the shock from the impact. A soreness spread across her skin where the chair had struck her. It felt like little more than a strong kick had reverberated, like absorbing the impact of a shin bone against the flesh there. What it really did was compound her growing frustration...which nearly drove itself to a shocked halt when the arrow let loose.

Lavana hadn't raised her claymore. The only thing she'd done was raise her voice in opposition. For that, Nir'wei had turned in his seat and fired straight for the mortalborn's face. Maxine's expression fell. A lot had been done here to-trial. A messy, uncivil lot...but loosing that arrow for a kill shot to silence words of disagreement? That was wrong. As much as she hated Lavana, despised her, the injustice of that misdeed was abhorrent enough for even Maxine to recognize. She let that stupid, glowing band envelop around her wrist.

You motherfucker...

As if born of Maxine's externalized spite, rain fell suddenly from the sky above. They were not mere sprinkles. The raindrops were heavy and driving like the unrelenting gale winds that swallowed the battlefield. Phantoms of shadow, filled with belligerent, grudging might, manifested where the ground quenched its thirst. Whether or not an Ashan Storm had been encouraged, the Rusalka had beckoned forth her own powerful, hateful tempest. Maxine extended her hand down while her legs continued to move under her. Something reached back in kind.

The Spirit of the Storm merged eagerly with her, and the effects of the union became immediately apparent thereafter. Her hair, once unbothered by the wind, blew wrathfully back from her face. Rain trailed down her body in unnatural patterns, seeming to cling to her without causing an annoying hindrance. Brown, focused eyes turned as dark and grey as the clouds that asphyxiated the sunlight. A new awareness rivaling that of Ambrosia awakened. As if she were the wind and sky, Maxine could see everything.

Meanwhile, Shadow Maxine moved wide and away from her host. The Diri of Destruction, smirking with both weapons bared, moved with haste to close distance and violently assault the first four-legged creature in range. From the two different angles spirit and host chose, they would not so easily be overwhelmed by a forward charging horde. The earthshaking rumble of the ominous volcano was like a bass to the overtone of adrenaline-filled blood pounding in her ears.

!	Message from: Pegasus
	Max: Action 1: Horrific Deluge. here Max Action 2: Stormbearer. (as above) Diri's Action 1: Moving wide from Max so they're not side-by-side targets to a forward charge. Diri's Action 2: Attacking the first approaching animal

[Lavana Tharn]

Editing