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Behind the Iron Door; Adventure open!
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Topic Started: Dec 30 2015, 11:01 AM (2,008 Views)
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Deleted User
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Feb 1 2016, 10:47 PM
Post #61
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Deleted User
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"To be nobody but yourself in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody else means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight; and never stop fighting." - e. e. cummings
Scarheart's warrior instincts would temporarily take second place as nurture would conquer nature. Scarheart had few talents, aside from being able to prepare for a plethora of situations, and in this case, he knew just the trick. Reaching into the bottom of his pack of abundant resources, a rear folding flap, he'd pull out a small bag of material that was very common for a man of his craft. His feet would carry him a few steps to Cassandra, dropping to a knee in front of her and producing the bag's contents - sawdust. With reckless abandon, he'd attempt to quickly and liberally apply the powder to the acid in hopes of absorbing the dangerous chemicals so that it could be much more easily, and painlessly removed. It was one of those moments when he honestly wished he had brought a base reagent, but the sawdust would have to do for now.
A quick glance to Cassandra would then spin the Blind Ranger forward to stand beside James, producing from his back a simple rope, knotted on one end with a thick, dense tie. It would begin swirling with intensity, an occasional **thud** of the knot against the cavern floor off to Hren's right. Subterranean creatures often relied on any sense other than sight, such as echolocation or tremorsense, and the Woodsman would try to use this knowledge to his advantage, causing his own feet to make impact to the floor to create dissonance. If their attention faltered to the rope for even a second, he had his answer.
Also... a knotted rope has a lot of leverage, so if need arose, he'd just bash the bloody things' pincers.
The sawdust started soaking up the acid, allowing Tide to wipe it away with a cloth from her bag. Now that his beloved was safe, Scar would be able to concentrate on the battle. Hiw knotted rope trick was rather clever, and it did indeed produce results from Crystal Eater 1 as it jerked its head towards the sound… right before James' bullet took its eye, and it jerked from the Gith's psychic hold. While they had eyes, they clearly heard by sound or touch. But with one on its back pierced twice over, and the other virtually out of commission, this battle should be over shortly.

The tension of the others nearby was near-tangible. The Gith Warlord reveled in those base emotions - people becoming unhinged in any direction, be it fear, false nonchalance, pride, bravado, and more. A smile would have overtaken his stoic face, were it not for the interruption of the annoying little monstrosities ahead of the 'pack.' His eyes rolled back in his head at the inappropriate timing - he was trying so hard to be kind and composed - and the damnable pests had to ruin the moment. ~No good deed goes unpunished.~
At first, Korazjh would study the environment, the encounter, and the movements of his 'allies' as they rushed to engage. The powerful, destructive instincts would be overwhelming string of thought that would barrage against his sixth sense like arrows against stone. He was accustomed to the little man-things fighting so bestially, and in fact, had come to enjoy being surrounded by that aggressive behavior - it made his calculated moves that much more identifiable.
When a Gith'yanki studies his environment, the physical senses are the first to shut down. Touch is meaningless. Sight and Smell can be deceiving and too slow. Taste, connected to smell, equally useless. Sound... now that was appropriate, but not the audible noises being made by the violence - rather, the thoughts of the individuals involved. Thought traveled infinitely faster than words and actions, betraying each and every combatants plans long before they even attempted them. Reading this information, all within the span of a single heartbeat, and then getting your own body to react to it - is what made Gith so deadly.
Of course, surface thoughts and emotions came with the territory - the drivel of the mind that had to be ignored and waded through like oily swamp muck. With a smirk that stretched across his face, he saw the acid splatter across Cassandra just a second before it actually happened. The smirk wasn't at her pain, but rather the Ranger's preparedness, and obvious weakness to give up a combative advantage just to mend the wounds of a creature that'd just pop back into existence after its 'death.' ~Silly man. Love is the most powerful force in the universe, alright - for your enemies.~ Korazjh thought to himself, half as a mental reminder but mostly out of narcissism for finding an equal capable of holding a conversation.
No, he would not reveal such weaknesses now - that knowledge was for his power alone, and he'd be sure to remember to bring it up, or use it later. Before springing to the 'rescue' of his 'peers', Korazjh would just give a quick glance toward Tide and Gwydion, he thought to himself: ~Dramatic, Over the Top? No no. Let me show you Dramatic and Over the Top...~
Without even drawing that silver blade, which honestly thirsted heavily for contact and to make things bleed, he held a hand toward the beetle that still maintained its footing - no point in wasting his power on a prone foe. His control over the telekinetic aspect of psionic energy would snap into place like tendrils from a great beast, grabbing at the beetle's head, the back of its shell, and each of the insect's legs. As soon as he felt the connection, but before the power would even disrupt the creature's movements, Korazjh would pull in every direction at once. A cross of his arms would send forth all his strength and animosity into that one psychic movement. Perhaps their little limbs would be tougher than they looked, but if not... they'd get a very lovely show indeed.
This only made Korazjh smirk much more vividly.
Korazjh's psychic grip would take the creature a split second after James' bullet took its eye. During all this the Gith would be bombarded not by just the mental waves from his allies, but from the alien source he had sensed before, speaking of more combat, protect the bearer, get to the crystal nest – can't, cut off!, and over it all yet under it all a strong, dominant 'voice' that rang with a simple order: Get back to the nest! Enforcers are coming to you!
This would be just prior to Crystal Eater 1 giving a loud shriek and the crystal that made up the carapace of its amoring broke away in fragments, perhaps some form of self-defense like a lizard losing its tail. Bloody, beaten, and panicking, it quickly dove against the rock wall with a spray of acid and retreated, quitting the battle!
CRYSTAL EATER 1 HAS BEEN DEFEATED!
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Deleted User
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Feb 1 2016, 11:28 PM
Post #62
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Deleted User
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 ~*~
The scene was interesting, to say the least. The beetles had launched into an assault against the group with a form of precision that she had guessed meant that their minds were connected to one-another. As her eyes darted across the battlefield before her, she side-stepped to ensure that she, as well, was between Tidesweep and the creatures that were attempting to attack her directly.
After the first wave of projectiles had cleared the air, she decided that now was the appropriate time for her to participate. She may not be what some would call a "game changer", but she was still an individual with a blade and to her mind, any additional assistance to the fray would further the demise of that which could harm her allies.
As the Elf made her way towards the prone beetle, her steps light and quick to not place herself in Scarheart's rope path, she kept an eye on the Githyanki. She knew that this was child's play to what he had faced in his past. Technically, it was to her, seemingly, as well. However, she still understood threat when it was before her and she was not too prideful to admit that she could be bested if she underestimated her foes.
Ashyana pried her eyes from Korazjh and blocked out the unnecessary tidbits of the battlefield. Her techniques were not too far from the Githyanki's, to be fair... they simply had different means to the same end. Nonetheless, she ceased her movements directly beside Gwydion and spun her katana from its sheath. The metallic sliding of the blade from its home was music to the blademaster's ears, but she also ignored that matter, truthfully. There could be no distractions in this fight.
It was barely visible to any who watched, her precision and speed to be reckoned with when she had her weapon at hand, but in a moment, she dropped to a single knee, slicing the blade horizontally across the beetle's exposed belly, her blow to strike perpendicular to Gwydion's own assault.
Without so much as trying to identify if the attack had been successful, she spun it around vertical and stabbed downward in an attempt to drive the folded steel deep.
What Gwydion's blade had begun, Ashyana's katana would complete as her finely crafted weapon drove down into the same rend that the Journeyman had already created. It would be over fast, with each weapon almost opening another layer of shell for the other to follow, and in almost perfect unison their weaponry would strike into the ice below, shattering it! Crystal Eater 2 would shudder, and go still.
CRYSTAL EATER 2 HAS BEEN DEFEATED!
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Raferties
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Feb 4 2016, 06:13 PM
Post #63
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The two Crystal Eaters were defeated, but the Heroes weren't given much of a moment to rest and enjoy their victory.
From beside Scar, where he'd been striking the rope against the ground, the tunnel wall almost opened up as two more, fresh and uninjured, rushed at him seeking prey. ((Crystal Eaters 3 and 4))
Tide and Cassandra would find one burrowing its way from the wall nearby to them as well, having scented the gem Tide wore and perhaps even drawn to the magic the djinn had cast. ((Crystal Eater 5))
Korazjh nor James wouldn't find themselves spared either, as three erupted between them and the team of Gwydion and Ashyana, two rushing the Githyanki and one diving towards the sword-wielding warriors who still knelt over its dead ally. ((Crystal Eaters 6, 7, and 8))
About a yard behind Banner, momentarily stunned by the flurry of combat but by his steps making the biggest vibrations, three burst up and began skittering towards him. ((Crystal Eater 9, 10, and 11))
And even Raferties would find himself in harm's way as one, seeking to ambush Tide, came out beside him and in the process knocked the angel over, his staff coming up to keep the snapping mandibles from finding their target. ((Crystal Eater 12))
Over all this, Korazjh and Banner, thus far the only ones sensitive to the telepathic energies that were crackling in the air, would pick up an increase in the complex and static-laden (respectively) communications that would boil down to an increasing sense of threat, urgent drive to return to the 'crystal chamber,' and immense fear of whatever threat the broadcasters of the messages were facing. And looming over all that chatter would be a single voice, trying to encourage those attacked (likely the party of unknown creatures ahead).
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Note: Until further stated, Scarheart, Belial, and Cassandra have standing permission to powerplay Raferties or Anari. Raferties and his Shinies ~~Anari and her Shinies~~ Keldos and his Shinies~~Cobalt and her Shinies~~Taki and her Shinies~~Kemori and his Shinies
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Telmaril
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Feb 4 2016, 06:39 PM
Post #64
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The beetles screeched, people leaped into action, and Banner? Xe hit the floor like the proverbial ton of bricks. Up until now xir alien anatomy had shielded xir from the worst of the psionic feedback reverberating around the chamber, but the latest insectoid assault came on a wavelength just long enough to send xir systems grinding into full-frame lockup. An error message popped up on xir HUD, then another, then six more in rapid succession, decrying everything from the state of xir processor to xir inter-line pressure and rapidly-rising sparkpulse. All that was alarming enough, but combined with the echoes still bouncing around the chamber...
Well, Ban was fairly certain xe could feel xir processor starting to sizzle, and wasn’t that a terribly cheerful thought?
Thankfully the rest of their ragtag little band, even Korazjh of the Unsubtle Threats, were less affected by that Primus-awful sound. They leapt into action with a smooth surety that called to mind crack assault teams on the move. No movements were wasted, no mass crossfire ensued, and in relatively short order both intruding insects were reduced to feebly twitching chunks. (...or splinters, as the case may be.) It was kind of awesome to watch, actually, even if Ban’s vision was half-obscured by the wall of error reports still demanding xir attention. Xe dismissed them just as quickly as xe could, acutely aware of both xir vulnerable position and the threat looming large over them. Cybertron didn’t have insects as humans understood the, but they had Insecticons, and where you found one bug-mech you inevitable found a dozen more. If there had been two here, there were at least ten or twelve lurking in the sh-
...well, xe was going to say ‘lurking in the shadows’, but then the unsteady ground buckled and disgorged a small army of chitinous horrors. That didn’t qualify as ‘lurking’. In fact, xe’d go so far as to say it qualified as ‘actively attacking’.
Attacking from a prone position was distinctly less than ideal, but ‘sitting and shooting’ was vastly preferable to ‘lying flat on your face waiting to get eaten.’ With that in mind Ban rolled to a knee, groped for aggro-tech programs and spun up the cannons on each arm. In xir scattered state xe didn’t dare risk live ammunition, but fire-retardant foam might just work as a bug-retardant too.
...and if it didn’t, well, the stuff hardened on contact with the air. With any luck it would hold the three bugs attacking xir still long enough for one of the more martially-inclined members of their troupe to dispatch it. If not, there might just be some bug-stomping in order.
Y’know. Once xe could stand without immediately toppling over.
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It matters not how strait the gate, how charged with punishments the scroll I am the captain of my fate, the master of my soul
Telmaril | Shinies Legion | Shinies Dust | Shinies Astrid | Shinies Shiny Site
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Deleted User
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Feb 4 2016, 09:31 PM
Post #65
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Deleted User
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James gave a quick triumphant grin. Right in the eye! If he had been hunting, that would of been a prefect shot. Also gave him a idea. He spun his revolver, pausing to eject the cylinder and replace the bullets he had spent.
"OK, now are we done fighting giant bugs?"
He wished he had never said that.
Rumbling walls and ground were never a good thing. Especially when your'e underground in what he would assume be a hive hot spot. Fun. He pulled another one of his revolvers. Things were about to get a little more tricky. He watched a explosion of Beetles erupt from the ground. Yep, this was going to be fun.
He watched the assault commence. Beetles selecting targets and rushing them. They seemed... Organized. Erupting withing their ranks and moving to different targets. The guidance that they had was far to pinpoint to just be a accident.
ten beetles, all in all. Shouldn't be a problem... maybe.
"Aim for the eyes! They really don't like that!" He said, before he could heed his own advice, the sound of clattering in the background made him spin on his heels. Raferties was pinned, and things weren't looking up. He felt others coming from behind. He turned and saw the two beetles rushing towards them.
Decisions, decisions...
He turned to the Githyanki. "You take one, I shoot the other?" He said, before even waiting for a answer he raised both arms in a T-pose. One revolvers aimed at Raf's Beetle 12. Another aimed at the encroaching Beetle 6
He was a good shot, but hitting two beetles in the eyes at once? Time to see what he was really worth when it came to being gunslinger.
He pulled the triggers and hoped for the best.

Gwydion blinked as another blade fell in with his. Who ever had swung it, gave him the last few inches to drive it in. With a crunch, the two blades bit deep. Killing the monster. Gwydion sighed and turned to his apparent helper. The samurai elf. Well, that one's new to. She looked as nonplussed at the conflict as a person reading a dictionary.
He gave her a brief nod, something told him trying to talk would end in silence. He had seen this kind of culture a good few times. Stoic warriors who followed a strict code of honor called Bushido. He wasn't sure if he remembered how to do this. He folded his fist against one hand and gave a small bow.
Wasn't perfect, but it should convey the same idea.
The ground rumbled as a small army lurched from it.
"Well, no time to stand on ceremony." He rushed forward, drawing Groudbreaker. His blades fell onto the beetle Seven. It had a hard shell, but that gunslinger was right, the eyes were nice and open.
Both blades flew for the things face.
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Deleted User
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Feb 4 2016, 10:17 PM
Post #66
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Deleted User
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At first, there was pain. Yes, she had definitely experienced larger amounts of punishment throughout her lifespan, but there never was a point that the pain became negligible. Truthfully, she was a little happy whenever she felt such a thing because it reminded her that she was alive. Well, immortal, but alive nonetheless.
"Thank you, darling...." Cassandra cringed at the sawdust being added to the pocking skin and contained a faint shriek at the sensation of Tide wiping the remnants away. Instead, she focused her gaze on the rest of the battle taking place around her, murmuring to Tide after the last bits of the acidic spray were obsolete. "And thank you, too...."
As the one retreated and the other beetle's life was extinguished, she could almost feel the pull of the chaos around her as the words fell from James' mouth. Cassandra closed her eyes and sighed softly. She knew that her own powers hadn't triggered any ill effects, but she always knew when there was a bad time for things to be said... and this was one of those.
"OK, now are we done fighting giant bugs?"
And then they came.
"No, I don't think so...."
As the beetles swarmed around the cavern floor, they seemed to pick out threats that were apparently pre-designated. And yet.... the Djinn frowned and spoke to no one in particular,
"One? Wh... Only one?!"
Cassandra's eyes narrowed and she grit her teeth, extending her hand in a flash of magic to begin encasing the approaching beetle 5 in ice. She guessed that the carapace and strength of the creatures would cause it to not last too incredibly long, but it would hopefully slow it down to assist.
With one hand still outstretched in a steady, swirling gesture towards that first, her gaze darted around the scene before locking upon the three on Banner. She knew that many of the other individuals within the hallway could handle themselves, but she had also heard the "Juggernaut" indicate that he was not the fighting sort, normally.
So, of course, she had to help.
With the indication that Banner had a weapon of some variety attached to his extended arms, she let loose that wicked smile and formed two sheets of ice on either side of the group, attempting to funnel their approach towards the autobot. If they were going to take him on, they were going to have to do so in a more.... happy.... formation.
 ~*~
Rising from her kneeling position, Ashyana stared hard at Gwydion, analyzing him and his movements in the couple of moments they had before the next wave of insects made their appearance. When he chose to bow to her in a similar fashion to that of her people, she straightened and returned the curt bow before flinging the residue of the kill from her weapon.
The Selu'ani decided that with the larger group of warriors in the center, she could migrate her efforts after assisting with the matter at hand. A roll forward placed her face-to-face with beetle 7 as well, her katana slicing directly between the mandibles in one clean motion. Choosing to not wait even a moment to determine the efficiency of her attack, she decided to remain confident in her capabilities and Gwydion's as she twisted her momentum and rolled over the beetle's carapace to engage the other two that were approaching James and Korazjh.
A step behind beetle 6 and 8, she chose to strike with a horizontal slash in an attempt to aid in shattering the chitin that protected them from any psionic or projectile attacks that may be hurled in their general direction. If she couldn't outright kill these beasts, she would attempt to fortify the efforts of her allies.
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Tidesweep
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Feb 5 2016, 06:26 AM
Post #67
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Tide gave Cassandra a weak grin, happy that Scarheart was able to at least stop the acids in it tracks for the most part. Without thinking, she put the acid coated cloth into her bag. It would be safe there as her bag somehow always managed to separate the things inside to different niches. She wasn't gonna question that though. It was more helpful than a hindrance so she would just accept it and more on.
Feeling some vibrations, she looked back to see Banner had fallen. Just as she was about to go towards him, all hell broke loose...Again. She should have suspected where there were one beetle, there would be more of them. Cursing under her breath as her friends all went to different battle positions, Tide did the only thing she could think of.
A memory of when she bit a fisi flashed through her head and she suppose this next thing she was about to do would be just as stupid. But considering her idea was to be 'bait' and lead them away from her friends, she figured this one would be less likely to get her scolded by those around her...Just slightly.
So what was this crazy idea?
Well, scrambling as far away from Beetle 12 and Raferties as she could, she would take a running leap at it and jump onto it. Or attempt to jump onto its back anyway. Beetle rodeo anyone?
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"Death has a bone to pick with you and I'm here to help out." -Cain Skelington
"The waves have their own music...Are you listening?" - Tidesweep
"Don't take my silence for agreement. That would be a mistake."- Gertude Weavian
"I will protect what is mine with a will forged like a diamond."- Mildred Fresi
"Healing can take time. Lucky for you, you should having nothing but it for awhile."- Jeremi Kgute
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Deleted User
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Feb 9 2016, 02:38 AM
Post #68
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Deleted User
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"Once I had a vision and a light Something worth my aspiration and a fight And there was a time when all this only seemed Like some sky-aspiring vision I had dreamed
Faded grey are all the days of yesteryears So much time has turned to memories and to tears Lately I have often sat and thought till dawn Of the days that are to come and those forgone
Seemed my time had passed me by Like clouds across the sky I was lost just like a raven in the night Most dreams waste away alas Mine all have come to pass Since I laid my eyes upon my guiding light
Late is now the hour of the day And I've long ago run out of words to say Deep within I had the will to find a way Others fled to fight again some other day
I've heard said that all is fair in love and war That a golden key can open any door And remember if you feel all hope is gone That the darkest hour comes just before the dawn" - Tyr, Valkyrja
Death and retreat - often times these things would come in conjunction with one another on the field of battle. His keen hearing at heard the hesitation of the beetle, its attention briefly having focused on the chaotic intonation of the knotted rope. This told him all he truly needed to know about the creatures.
As the combat came to a resolution and the guards were being lowered, the blind ranger did not stop making that clacking sound - the rope coming into contact with the cavern floor over and over, though he kept it much more uniform now. He would not be fooled by those waiting in the shadows. Just enough time would pass that he would briefly consider lowering the rope, and that's when he felt the vibration through the stone of a veritable army coming to defend the previous two creatures.
Wrapping a good length of the rope along his arm, Scarheart would continue the hard, rapid movements of the chord while his feet would raise to the balls, keeping as much of his body from the stone as possible. His other hand would quietly slip from its sheathe an ancient hunting knife, crafted from sterling silver and pure white antler from a sacred beast that was properly taken. Boldly, but quietly, he allowed the noises from the others to create a cloak of protection for his silent movements as he rushed like the silent night air itself. The rope would lash out far to the right of his exactly position, before snapping to the other side and cracking into the left bit of stone beside him.
In the distraction, all hopes would be that Beetle 3 and 4 couldn't feel his presence. He stilled his breath completely and lunged between the two creatures, cracking the rope into each one of them with hopes of utter confusion, while he went silent and still once again behind them, even the rope coming to a dead halt. He would continue this ploy, back and forth, until their confusion was so absolute as to expose their faces to that knife, where he could get a good strike against their mandibles to debilitate their offense entirely.

In truth, the Gith Warlord was about to yawn and just lean against the cavern wall. This was nowhere near challenging enough for one who waged war for a living - and quite honestly, a hobby. ~Oh please let there be more... this is insulting.~
The fact that more did show up had two immediate effects upon Korazjh'iktha. One, it brought a grin upon his face as the thrill of battle was once again rearing up inside of him - now perhaps, there'd be a challenge. Two, it only stroked his ego in the realization that he merely need to ask for something, and this 'Illogical Field' would provide for him. At least, that's how it played out in his mind.
At James' communication in his direction, Korazjh's only answer would be to reach out and, just before the shot, place a hand upon the firearms in the gunslinger's hands. With a powerful burst of kinetic energy from the Gith, raw momentum would be flooded into the ammunition within, hopefully amplifying their impact immensely. Meanwhile, the Warlord's other hand would clench into a fist as he'd just surround himself with a kinetic barrier. The crystalline, translucent field surrounding him would be quite visible as he strode forward toward all three that moved somewhat in his direction.
"Now we have a battle! Revel, soldiers! They bleed, they flee... they die."
His boisterous voice would ricochet off the cavern walls as he lowered himself more to the level of the beetles. At first, he wouldn't even try to dodge their incoming attacks. Rather, he'd rely entirely on that kinetic shield, allowing their offense to bash into it and create even more kinetic energy until the thing would burst. When it did, he'd suffer nearly as much as those on the other side of the barrier - but a small price to pay to watch their own attacks batter them into extinction.
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Raferties
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Feb 10 2016, 06:35 PM
Post #69
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((Ok, OOC note ahead of time this round! I realized after trying a couple of times that trying to do edits with this many enemies on the battlefield and so much happening at once was too much for me to handle, so here's an update! I'm handling this foe by foe, and added a list of who attacked what to try and help keep everything straight. Questions? PM me!))
Crystal Eater 3 and Crystal Eater 4 Scarheart
Crystal Eaters 3 and 4 would pause in their attack, heads snapping this way and that trying to sort through the vibrations made by all the other combatants, as well as the strange noise that was so close as to have attracted them, but yet seemed to confuse them more.
That was the moment that Scarheart lunged between them, the others' nicely cloaking his own stealthy steps, and the hunter's knotted rope striking them caused the two beetles to slin about, mandibles snapping as they sought the foe they could not find. After several cycles of this, Crystal Eater 3 would get lucky, one mandible momentarily catching on Scarheart's pants leg and causing a small tear, but for his partner, well, Crystal Eater 4 collided with his brother-in-arms and it threw off his movements, leaving him open for the blow Scar had been waiting for.
The sharp knife not only clicked into its target, but sheered one half of the right mandible clean away, making the bettle-like creature recoil with a flailing of limbs and a high-pitched shriek. It fell back from his would've-been target, wounded and wanting nothing less than to flee.
((Crystal Eater 3 quits the battle! ~ Scarheart, you may choose if you permit it to retreat.))
Hearing the other react, however, was all the indication Crystal Eater 4 needed to hone his senses and strike, mandibles opening a line across Scarheart's back as the ranger narrowly heard the warning hiss of wind against the natural weaponry. It quickly jerked back for another attack.
Crystal Eater 5 Cassandra
Of all the attacks that it might have thought would be brought against it, certainly being frozen solid was one that Crystal Eater 5 hadn't predicted! (But then again, who could?) It jerked as the icy powers of the Djinn began to encase it, trying to pull back and get out of range, but it was done almost as quickly as it had begun. The creature visibly strained against its prison, but it was held fast… for the moment. As its frustration grew, a greenish fluid, one familiar to Cassandra from a recent and personal experience, began to ooze from its mandibles. At best, the ice would hold only a few seconds! Make 'em count!
Crystal Eater 6 James, Ashyana In the moments before the shot went off, Ashyana stepped in and her gleaming sword sliced the air with a whistle. Her battle strategy would prove to be sound, as the edge crashed into the gem-like carapace. The beetle was cunning, and had seen the blow impending, lowering its body to take the hit on its shell. But while it couldn't understand her actions, the results were instant as said shell fractured like bashes glass…
Perfect opening for the bullet, off-target for the eyes due to the beast's own movements, slammed in. Boosted by Korazjh's psychic powers, the charged projectile would obliterate the shell, going on through to break the spine and eject from the other side to bury in a wall. Hope you weren't wanting that one back! But lost ammo aside, the Crystal Eater would fall limply to the stone, utterly gone.
((Crystal Eater 6 has been defeated!))
Crystal Eater 7 Gwydion, Ashyanna Once more, Gwydion and Ashyana would find their blades working in tandem with the Selu-ani's starting the cut, and the Journeyman's blade, although missing the eyes as the beetle-like thing ducked – second time one of them intentionally protected their eyes; were they hive-minded or something? - slicing nevertheless up the carapace and causing a nice, long cut that nearly bisected it. The Crystal Eater shrieked a tone to shatter glass, the lunged forward, bashing through Gwydion and picking Ashyana as its target, as her blade was the first one it felt hit it. Mandibles slashes, and it skidded to a stop a scant foot from her to spray its cone of acid as she struck at Crystal Eater 8, not aiming to hurt her, though that would be a bonus, as the acid landed on her sword arm, sword hand, and more critically the sword itself!
Crystal Eater 8 Ashyanna The third of the warrior elf's targets, this one perhaps had the advantage of seeing what happened to the others, or perhaps there was something to these things that made them learn from other's mistakes far faster than normally possible, but the beetle-creature all but dropped to its belly on the stone floor, so the blade merely sliced off about a half-inch of shell from its back. It recoiled quickly, scrambling up and hurt but clearly not badly, as the acid from Crystal Eater 8 flew. Seeking to team up against the skilled combatant, it rushed forward, snapping at Ashyana's legs and feet in an attempt to keep her off-balance.
Crystal Eater 9, 10, and 11 Cassandra, Banner Ah, what beautiful teamwork!
Banner had been quick to regain his feet (or knee, as the case may be) after recovering from his Blue Screen of Near Death, and the spraying foam definitely made the things recoil in surprise if not pain like the others were dealing. They started to press through, strong things that they were despite the foam quickly hardening…
Until Cassandra's magic channeled ice to either side, forcing the enemy trio into a cluster and compounding the foam back on itself several times over! Between the two effects, what was once a mere couple of inches of foam over all of them became a foot thick or more, and what's worse is they were sticking to one another! Two soon became helplessly ensnarled, snapping at the air and each other more than anything, and one even sprayed its acid into the air in an attempt to melt the foam that singed them more than had any real effect.
Crystal Eater 11, however, had been fortunate in its positioning and its head was still free. Unable to move and growing furious, it sprayed its caustic cone at the mech of a marshmallow. Its aim wasn't perfect by any means, so the fluid only got onto Banner's right leg, but hey, had to give him credit for trying!
Crystal Eater 12 James, Tide, Kor
For certain, when Crystal Eater 12 broke free and landed on the angel, it likely thought it had an easy target in its grip. Raferties knew how to fight, but had been caught utterly off-guard and was also pinned on his back, taking away his maneuverability and his leverage both. It was a stalemate, until the thing managed to get its head angled down and prepared to spray the Lorekeeper at point-blank range.
That was when Tide so brazenly and bravely jumped on its back. The unexpected weight threw off the beetle's entire leverage, and it gave Raferties the added oomph he needed to push his arms up to their fullest extent, Solarian Truesteel staff under the mandibles and keeping it from using its acid.
That was the moment when James' second charged shot ripped from the muzzle of the gun through the air, clipping the very tip of one silver-edged feather as the angel flailed for some sort of balance to counterattack before impacting in the beast's throat, made exposed by Tide's slipping grip on its back. Raferties would find himself sprayed by an unpleasant gout of blood before he could shove his way free, but better its blood than his.
((Crystal Eater 12 has been defeated!))
Banner and Korazjh The telepathic/electric impulses would be shifted a bit, calls for defense still ringing but also alerts that 'someone' was defending the 'Den.' It seems that whoever, or whatever, was embattled ahead were at least now aware of the band of Adventurers. The question remained, would this be a good thing, or not?
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Note: Until further stated, Scarheart, Belial, and Cassandra have standing permission to powerplay Raferties or Anari. Raferties and his Shinies ~~Anari and her Shinies~~ Keldos and his Shinies~~Cobalt and her Shinies~~Taki and her Shinies~~Kemori and his Shinies
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Tidesweep
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Feb 12 2016, 06:09 AM
Post #70
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The distraction had work! Tide had held on for dear life as the beetle reared up, trying to dislodge her. And then she felt it shudder. Still scrabbling for a hold, she soon realized the beetle was no longer wining. Yes! One done that she knew of for sure...Humpteen million to go it felt like. A quick look around from her beetle vantage point showed that while a few had gone down, there were still too many about. Dropping from the carapace, she landed with a thud.
That wasn't a soft landing at all and the fall had been a bit since the beetle had reared up. She was just bruised though as she quickly scrambled to her feet and around to check on Raferties. "I do not think the new look suits you well..." Then she looked at him with concern. If they could spit acid..."It is not burning you is it? Like...Their blood is not acid as well right?"
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"Death has a bone to pick with you and I'm here to help out." -Cain Skelington
"The waves have their own music...Are you listening?" - Tidesweep
"Don't take my silence for agreement. That would be a mistake."- Gertude Weavian
"I will protect what is mine with a will forged like a diamond."- Mildred Fresi
"Healing can take time. Lucky for you, you should having nothing but it for awhile."- Jeremi Kgute
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Deleted User
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Feb 14 2016, 09:38 PM
Post #71
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Deleted User
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Anyone can see the road that they walk on is paved with gold It's always summer they'll never get cold They'll never get hungry, they'll never get old and gray You can see their shadows wandering off somewhere They won't make it home but they really don't care They wanted the highway, they're happier there today, today "The Way" - Fastball
Scarheart was quite accustomed to pain, and a significant amount of it, in that he had 'died' so many, many times. However, there was a rather unpleasant jaggedness to these mandibles, and they pulled roughly at the toughened skin on the Ranger's back. He grit his teeth, and through the clench, let out a wince. Taking no time to linger on the pain, however, he'd have to let the injured creature escape to dodge the one that was still fighting.
With a firm grip on the rope, he'd flip it a few more times before wrapping it around his arm tightly, making an O shape between his two arms, and await the second strike from the beetle in attempts to wrap the tense rope around the mandibles. Once snagged, he'd snap the rope taught and prevent that weapon from functioning, while rolling over the back of the beetle's shell; the momentum might even flip it over, should he get the roll just right.

Korazjh... frowned.
~So... I nearly rip one of them into pieces... and they don't even consider me enough of a threat to attack...? Oh let's change this...~
Hearing the psychic noise phenomenon, Korazjh would focus on that frequency, trying to impart his own mental voice and will. Staring hard at Beetle 8, Korazjh would attempt to sever its mental connection to the greater whole. Hive-minded creatures were practically without function when they were deafened from the collective, or so the Warlord had experienced in the past. Also, severing the connection would alert any other creature to who caused that severing. That should get their attention.
... also, it didn't hurt, that Korazjh felt the attack on that particular creature might yield Ashyana owing the Gith once again.
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Deleted User
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Feb 15 2016, 09:11 PM
Post #72
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Deleted User
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Deciding that she had assisted enough for the time being, Cassandra just smiled slightly and held her magic, occasionally channeling a tad bit of additional ice into the spell that help the initial target as she dropped the funnel since it seemed to have done the trick. Instead, she chose to keep an eye out around the remaining foes to see if anyone needed any help. Her eyes did fix on Scarheart briefly, but she knew that a simple injury wouldn't deter him much at all.
Instead, she would reserve her extreme amounts of energy for a later point if it would be necessary. For now.. there were enough warriors and combatants to help her relax for a moment or two.
 ~*~
The Selu'ani had not been expecting this at all. For the two beetles that were her secondary targets to suddenly turn and direct their ire upon her? No, she had not predicted this happening.
As she came to a stop after her blade had managed to strike home or miss their respective targets, the acid took her by complete surprise, splattering onto her arm, hand, and blade itself. The Elf's eyes narrowed and she cursed under her breath in her native tongue before disengaging from her foe to roll to one side, using the momentum from the assault of Beetle 8 to help with her tumble. She was not trying specifically to get away from the fight altogether... no, she was rolling towards the pile of sawdust left behind from the attempts to remove the very same saliva from Cassandra's injuries.
Since Scarheart couldn't manage to be perfect (especially blind as he was) with his aim of the sawdust, a pile was gathered, relatively unused, nearby to the Djinn.
She couldn't wait and she didn't wish to see how well it would work, but it was the only chance she had to hopefully guarantee that the least amount of damage possible was done...
To her sword.
Yes, if any were to glance over, without knowing the makeup of the beetle's saliva, Ashyana refused to take the chance that it could actually manage to eat through her weapon. Granted, it was the most durable weapon, she thought, that was there in Teragaia... but she was not prone to taking chances.
Instead of focusing on herself, she first laid her katana on the ground and doused it in the absorbent. Then, as soon as she was sure that the entire hilt and tang had been covered, she scooped up the faint remaining bits to cover her own hand, then up to her arm where the rest had splattered.
She would endure pain... but a swordmaster was useless without a sword.
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Deleted User
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Feb 16 2016, 06:36 AM
Post #73
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Deleted User
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James grinned, good hits on both sides. Two dead beetles to his name. He saw Tide roll over to help Raf. He would of liked to help, but he had bigger fish to fry. He turned to the rest of the melee. Blades were swung, ropes were used. Spells were slung. Though with the death of comrades, the beetle assault already seemed to falter/ The survivors seemed more desperate. Like they were... Buying time.
And that meant they didn't have time to waste. He turned both guns to bare on another target. Now... Who would get the fun of meeting Sidewinder?
Though it didn't really look like anyone needed help in particular. Well... Looks like he's waiting in the wings. Sometimes, in chess, the best move was to not make one.

Gwydion gritted his teeth as he flew sideways. Watching the little bugger spray Ashyana with acid. He was more than mad... He was furious. Nobody ignores him when in combat. No-bloody-body! Bug or not, he was gonna crush it.
"This ones mine." He said, walking towards the beetle. His blade started to glow with Ether energy. Time to see how hard that shell was. He rushed forward, a stray bolt seemed to glint off his blade and strike the bug. slid to the side. Stabbing where he had cut a opening.
He stabbed for it. Putting his force behind it. He was going to run the thing through!
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Telmaril
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Feb 17 2016, 07:52 AM
Post #74
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Score one for Cassandra. Not only had her ice spells done their fair share of damage, they’d herded all three of the strange buggy creatures close together enough for Banner’s fire-retardant foam to do its job. The Autobot flashed a pleased grin as the insectoid menaces stiffened, scratchy little legs flailing in ineffectual attempts to escape. No matter how much they fought or struggled, the foam held strong, apparently immune to the acid sprayed by agitated insects.
Banner xirself, however, was rather less immune. While xir armor was warforged and battle-tested, laced through with one of Brainstorm’s hyper-resistant ‘super-alloys’, xe was still a creature of many layers. Beneath that outermost layer of nigh-impenetrable armor lurked layers upon layers of delicate circuitry, nanomachinery and living metal. The crystal eater’s acid might not have been able to eat through xir armored shell, but that didn’t stop it from seeping down into xir substructure. Ban flinched on impact, rallied, then flinched again, only to yelp aloud and dance away on clattering pedes.
“Ow, ow, ow, OW-” More dancing. Xe wasn’t terribly good at it even when xe wasn’t being eaten alive by acid. Factor that in and xe wound up... well, flailing like an inflatable tube man. Thankfully survival instincts kicked in a sparkpulse later. Still bouncing, Ban swapped ammunition for one arm cannon, dousing xir poor prickling leg with a high-intensity jet of water.
...and, because even sweet-natured Autobots can be vengeful when wronged, xe swapped the other arm’s ammunition store for gelled gasoline and aimed straight at the offending crystal eater.
Flame on, motherfragger.
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It matters not how strait the gate, how charged with punishments the scroll I am the captain of my fate, the master of my soul
Telmaril | Shinies Legion | Shinies Dust | Shinies Astrid | Shinies Shiny Site
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Raferties
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Feb 18 2016, 02:16 AM
Post #75
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Crystal Eater 4 Scarheart
Crystal Eater took the bait, lunging forward towards the man it had already wounded. Perhaps it disregarded the rope, or believed it could snap its way through it, but either way it was certainly surprised when said object suddenly tangled in its mandibles. The beetle flailed and jerked, briefly stumbling forward as Scarheart tumbled over its shell. For a moment there was a tug-of-war between man and insect (there's a thought that could only be made on Teragaia), then the first legs left the ground, then the second, then the entire creature tumbled over, landing hard on its back on the ground. In perhaps a desperation move, it sputtered a cone of its acid attack, not hitting Scar in the slightest but destroying the knotted rope weapon before beginning to scramble to its feet. That would take a moment of rocking, though, so if Scar was fast he could take advantage while he had it!
Crystal Eater 5 Cassandra
Crystal Eater 5 was certainly getting irritated with Cassandra and her magic. Every time, just when it thought it was getting somewhere with its acid against the ice, she thickened it again. Oh, when it got free, you were so its target, count on it!
When it could get free...
Crystal Eater 7 For a brief moment, Crystal Eater 7 found itself with the extraordinarily good fortune to be utterly unthreatened! And it was smart enough to not let this opportunity go to waste. With a brief forward scurry, it chose a target and snapped at Korazjh, catching the Gith high on the hip, then assault him with a spray of acid. Only a quick dodge would even have a hope of keeping the Astral plane warrior from dodging half of the caustic substance!
Crystal Eater 8 Korazjh, James
Focusing on the psychic impulses, Korazjh would find out two things that hadn't been clear before: while he could pick up on the hive-minded stirrings of the beetles, it would be almost drowned out by the quite sentient and almost unnervingly familiar-yet-not thoughts and commands of something else entirely. Clearly, in the world of mental juggernauts, he wasn't quite alone down here. But finding the beetle's wavelength as it were would be simple enough, and the severing would cause a wild flailing and screeching as the thing panicked… leaving it perfectly open for what happened next.
Not only did Gwydion have his own anger backing his blow, but the Crystal Eater was virtually defenseless as it tried to find its hive again, so it barely dodged the stabbing blow that sank into it. With a weakened squeal that sounded almost pitiful, it recoiled, trying to flee from the pair of swordsmen that had it on the ropes!
Crystal Eater 8 quits the battle! Korazjh and Gwydion, it is your choice whether or not it escapes.
Korazjh In the chaos of battle and mental jabber (part of which being beetle instinct, the other part sentient commands to 'defend the carrier, 'beware on your left!,' and other such thoughts), one thought, powerful and undeniably female (though thankfully unfamiliar, despite the jolt of alarm it might give the Gith) would touch briefly upon the warrior's in response to his seeking through the telepathic waves himself:
Whom are you?
Crystal Eater 9, 10, and 11 Banner
While the water might not have been able to neutralize the acid, it did help wash enough of it away so that while the leg still hurt, it wasn't doing any more damage to the mech. The ones still struggling within the hardened foam were slowly beginning to cause some cracks, working together it seemed to pull in different directions at steady paces and in a minute or two might have broken one free…
But that mattered little, as the flamethrower's attack hit them. It was ironic, in a way. The parts of them that were encased were actually protected from the fire, but there was enough still exposed that it mattered little, especially in the case of the one that had specifically targeted Banner with acid. By the time xe could see xir targets again, it was all over.
Weren't roasted beetles a delicacy somewhere?
Crystal Eaters 9, 10, and 11 have been defeated! Tide
Raferties was still prone only on his side now, coughing and spitting the blood from his mouth and trying to wipe it from his eyes, but he nodded in answer to Tide's question.
“No, it does not suit me – I will be needing a thorough bath when this is over. But it is not burning me.” He paused for a moment as he realized something, then quickly called out to the others, “Beware their blood! It is poison! Do not get it on your face or into wounds!” He pulled himself to his feet easily despite his warning, smiling at Tide to forestall any worry. “Fear not, I am strongly resistant to poisons. Not as immune as I once was, but resistant enough. It is not affecting me, but the sooner I can get somewhat clean, the better I think. What of you, are you hurt?” Guardian angel and all, he slightly put himself between the woman and the remaining beetles, just in case any remembered their original target.
James
Most of the foe down, one held immobile, two left active. With the battle starting to wind down, it was at this point that James would pick up on the sounds of waning battle from somewhere else. With no enemies threatening, more screeching and the sounds that all of the Adventurers would by now associate to the Crystal Eaters would be clear from the passage that the initial two had come from. It seems that there was another fight on the ebb. The question might be raised, if one side were the Crystal Eaters, who were the others?
Ashyana Working the sawdust with only one really functioning hand, as the acid would be burning and the elf could see her skin reddening and blistering right before her eyes, there would be enough spillover to quickly cover the hilt and tang of the sword. There would be some damage already done, mostly tarnishing and some wear of the less-durable parts of the hilt, but nothing that would compromise the integrity of the blade but that would need fixing when next she was able. As for her hand, well, most of the damage would already be done by the time she took a moment to tend to herself. Flexing her fingers would be intensely painful, skin tight and pulling and several blisters having arisen. With time, it would heal, but wielding her katana would be difficult with that hand, and unless medicine or magic were applied in short order there might even be some scarring.
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Note: Until further stated, Scarheart, Belial, and Cassandra have standing permission to powerplay Raferties or Anari. Raferties and his Shinies ~~Anari and her Shinies~~ Keldos and his Shinies~~Cobalt and her Shinies~~Taki and her Shinies~~Kemori and his Shinies
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