Before Selena can do anything to prevent Nigrum and Aibek to jump at each other's throat, the oven takes life and does that instead. "Oh, come on. Now even the furniture's attacking us?".
Drawing her Dan Bong with irritation, she tries to restrain the creature, only to miss because of its semi-liquid nature. "Urgh, I guess they noticed that I was having too much fun handling normal human, and threw another thingy without discernible limb at us. Calistria's heels, I hope this Redemption guy as a neck trough I can choke his life out." the half-fiend rants, half venting and half hoping to draw the creature's attention.
Aibek shrugs through gritted teeth as the first attack singed flesh. "I fully agree with the neck throttling sentiment. And here I had hoped I was wrong about the oddity and that the oven just had some pie" the witchwolf chuckled towards Selena while pulling in the shadows around each clawed hand. Launching forward, the witchwolf striked quickly before jumping back.
Getting hit as the creature appears, his flesh is both beaten and burned at the same time. The second blow comes moments later but he avoids it. Wasting no time he draws Tsui and swings at yet another elemental.
He manages to avoid catching fire from the earlier blow and his own strike lands with comparable force in kind upon the elemental.
Azri focuses her cursed (or at least cursing) powers again... and this time, she sent out a wave of misfortune intended to pull the creature down and weaken its ability to do much of anything. It was followed up by another cackle, just to be sure. "Such fascinating creatures, though, don't you think? I wish we could tame them..."
The Hex made the creature flinch, even as it grunted at the attacks that landed, fresh molten rock oozing in to replace that which was lost. With a shudder the creature suddenly belches forth a large puddle of magma, oozing underneath it's bulk. Passing through is going to be difficult.
Nigrum studies the elemental's flowing form for a moment before swinging his great blade at it once more.
His trusted sword takes another bite out of the liquid form of the creature, making it less then it was.
"Where's Kira? Is she okay?" Mihara calls out to her allies, opening fire again.
Thinking swiftly, Selena Tries to analyze the situation.
Well, hot guy here is already pretty beaten up, and tying it up won't help much...Let's just smash it up!
With a grin, the half-succubus raises her leg to add power to the strike (and to let the people in the room peek under her skirt), only to stop at mid-air.
Waitwaitwait I can't do that! These shoes are expensive, and I have an hunch that lava and fabric don't go well together...
At the last moment, Selena decides to hit the creature with her elbow, but the blow doesn't prove strong enough to damage the enemy.
Aibek holds a shadow encased claw over the burn wound, a growl rising from within through gritted teeth, the shadow creature launched forward and struck hard twice, before jumping backwards, wincing slightly.
The lich girl continued to send wave after wave of debilitating power at the elemental, even as she cackled madly, clearly quite determined to help her allies overcome it. She was also non-discreetly staying well back, far away from the burning magma. It wasn't like she couldn't heal from it, she just... didn't like pain very much. "Why would you stuff a creature like that into such a place, anyway? It seems... impractical." she grumbled.
Kira called out "I'm OK! I'm behind Selena, making sure I don't...wait, where is that thing going?"
Indeed the Elemental, snapping and snarling like a an over-boiling cauldron, sank into the floor with a strange and surreal grace, almost appearing to be draining into the ground like the liquid it seemed to be.
Within moments, however, it rose again - forcing itself around the table as it tried to make room for it's bulk. The pool of magma where it had previous been was still sitting, bubbling and smoking - and between Aibek, Selena and the nearest door.
The heap of boiling rock groaned as it tried to fit in the too-small space and lashed at Mihara with a flailing tendril of Magma.
"Oh no! It's after me!" Mihara pretends to panic and be afraid as she moves away, hoping to lure the elemental deeper into the open room, where the party would have an easier time fighting it.
She nocks another arrow, and fires.
Another curse shot out of Azri's eye and towards the magma elemental, this time seeking to tear down its ability to land attacks on others. The effort needed to do this didn't seem to be bothering her much - the Evil Eye was something she could use all day if she had to. The creature probably didn't have that much power left, but she wanted to make absolutely sure. Better too much than too little, and risking one of her new friends getting badly hurt from something they could have avoided.
Aibek staggered back, growling softly as the magma cut the witchwolf and Selena off from the rest of the room. Holding one arm up to shield, Aibek saw only one choice. Softly walking back a few steps, the shadow assassin takes a running leap over the magma and expertly sails over and lands on the other side. Aibek chose to continue the nearest wall, needing a breath and break from the heat. The shadow assassin rested an arm on the wall and the free hand over the wound the elemental had inflicted on the witchwolf, amber eyes scanning the room at both the conditions of everyone and anything to stop this elemental quickly.
Nigrum gives pursuit, bring his weapon down on the elemental yet again in splitting arc.
Again Tsui strikes true and another piece of the outsider is broken away from the main body.
"Hey! Get back here!" Selena shouts as the elemental flees. After taking a few steps back, she effortlessly leap over the pool of magma, charging the elemental shortly after landing. This time, she manages to drive her elbow trough the creature's hide.
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The creature grunted as the blows hammered into it, but the blows certainly weren't inflicting as much harm as might be expected. Magma kept oozing into the gaps, closing all but the most serious.
The creature lashed out again at the two closest to it, Serena and Nigrum, with it's tendrils.
+
The first blow, despite everything, manages to land on Nigrum. The second blow misses Serena, but she manages to grab the tendril and grapple the Elemental. The raw heat of the monster threatened to cause some harm, however, the inky red glow of it's body leaking out through the semi-molten stone.
Despite herself, Azri was impressed - their foe was putting up a pretty good fight despite the layers of curses she'd heaped upon it, and she kind of wanted to take it home with her... but there weren't actually any other curses she could heap upon it. With a bit of a shrug, she cackled again - the only other spell she had that might even theoretically be useful was her Spider's Thread, but fire did bad things to that spell...
Selena's expression fills with glee as she manages to grab the creature. Yanking the tendril, the half-succubus twists it with such might as to hinder the creature, displaying way more strength than it seemed to be possible from her figure.
This is fun THIS IS FUN! It looked boring at first, but I'd be damned if I say my blood isn't boiling right now! Maybe it's actually boiling!
As if trying to imitate Azri, Selena starts to laugh: first only a chuckle, then at the top of her lungs. Too focused on the fun she's having beating down the creature, the half-fiend barely manages to prevent her clothes to be set on fire by the elemental.
Mihara trains her bow on the creature, unwilling to open fire while Selena is grappling it.
The Magma Elemental roared as the wounds poured in, and Selena managed to grab it and pin the much larger creature to the ground. Molten rock hissed to little effect against the succubus, and the creature bulged and reared up in an attempt to break free.
With a roar of triumph it broke free of her grasp, turning to face her.
Nigrum takes another swing at the elemental.
As the elemental breaks free Tsui comes in again.
"Ooh, good swing!" Azri cackled, watching as Nigrum struck out at the creature. Hopefully that would be enough to take it down, but negative energy formed around her fist - if needed, she could at least dart in and try punching the thing. She'd wait for a request on that, though, just in case the others would rather her stay out of the way - she wouldn't take that personally.
The Elemental hissed in pain, magma turning to rock as the magic powering it evaporated, it's damage reduction finally overcome. Slowly it cooled into a single hard stone before crumbling into dust, which in turn faded away.
"What a bothersome creature." Mihara sighs with relief, tucking her bow away. "Now, where were we? It seems to me like we need to be more careful; the enemy could be hiding anywhere."
"All good here." Azri said, waving slightly - they'd probably already known that, but there were times when it helped to be sure, and information was important. "Would you like me to take point? I'm pretty good at spotting things."
While not burnt by the elemental, it's original attack had landed hard enough to rattle him. His flesh was already a shade of purple from the bruising.
"I would not be opposed to healing."
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Ayreth acknowledges Nigrum with a nod. Dim lights begin to swirl around her hand as she reaches out and touches the half-celestial. The lights surge forth into Nigrum, knitting his wounds. It's definitely positive energy but has a slightly creepy feel. Emmitt watches, his head poking over Ayreth's shoulder.
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Selena is about to spout a slew of colorful epithets at the creature, but the elemental is slain before she can even start to insult the enemy. "Well, that was more fun than I expected. Still, guy almost burned my clothes, so I'd prefer if we didn't have to do that again. Or at least, not while I'm wearing something expensive." she grins.
While waiting for everyone to proceed, Selena waves at Emmit "Hi, little one! Didn't show yourself much, did you?" she says to the cat with a smile.
"Ah, I remember the days where my wardrobe wasn't endless. Such nostalgia," Mihara replies, amused.
"Have you considered investing in magical clothing, Selena? I don't think I can ever go back to mundane fabrics."
While waiting for everyone to proceed, Selena waves at Emmit "Hi, little one! Didn't show yourself much, did you?" she says to the cat with a smile.
Emmitt looks at Selena for a moment and blinks his violet eyes once before doing a cat's version of a shrug by curling up and going to sleep in Ayreth's hood. He doesn't seem very fazed by the incident with the elemental.
Aibek leaned back against the wall, clawed hand over injury, but taking a moment to enjoy the calm after a battle. Smiling at Selena's comment, Aibek replied It was more my hair the blasted thing got than my clothes, my hair is likely easier to replace or do without at the moment...".
Aibek waited further for Ayreth to finish with Nigrum before stating, " I would be grateful if you could take a moment for this", raising a clawed hand slowly from the wound. Aibek's amber eyes glanced around the room before saying And how are you doing, Kira?
The bruise fades and his earlier wound seems a little more healed over but still remains for the most part. Not that he complained, he did not always have the luxury of magical healing much less a spellcaster. He had learn to make due through sheer toughness and endurance, again not that he preferred it.
"My thanks."
He says to Ayreth with a lowered head before returning to his vigil, taking a moment to flick Tsui towards the floor to rid it of cooled magma. Again the nodachi had been denied the blood of an enemy, perhaps finally tearing the gears from this mad construct would make up for it.
Selena's eyes light up at Mihara's response "Magical clothing? Endless wardrobe?".
She sounds a lot like those merchants in Absalom's bazaars... The same merchants that convinced me to buy an enormous amount of stuff I will probably never use. I should really have thought it over before buying those matching sets of Almiraj fur coats. Or the amphisbaena corset, for that matter. Still, magical clothes sound cool. Buying one, or two, or three wouldn't be that bad of an idea...
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Ayreth reaches over her shoulder and strokes Emmitt's head a couple times but receives no more acknowledgement than Selena.
To Aibek, she says, "I'll do what I can." Again, her hand glows dimly with several swirling lights as she reaches towards the wound.
"I hope that we do not receive many more injuries," she mutters quietly.
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"Oh, OK, you know," the young woman's voice in a slightly strained tone of voice, "Other than I'm trapped by this lake of liquid rock and the kitchen counters are kinda starting to smoke. Do any of you know that water magic spell? You might want that one."
"Here!" Azri said, pointing to the ceiling. She whispered an arcane word, and a thread of spider silk shot out of her hand and stuck to the ceiling. A moment later, she tossed the other end of the rope towards where the young woman seemed to be. "Grab it and swing across! Be quick, though, it'll dissolve soon." Because that was way more fun than getting soaked, right?
The length of spider silk twitched and moved towards the opposite end of the kitchen. "OK, I can do this. I can get across. I won't get set on fire, and if I do - no, no, I'm not going to - oh, to hells with it!"
-
As the rope swang across, something brushed the top of the magma puddle. As she landed on the opposite side, a small flame continued to burn of what had to be assumed to be Kira's trousers. "Hey, that was kinda...whoa, hey, I'm ON FIRE!"
A piercing scream erupted as the young girl began to thrash around in some attempt to stop the burning.
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Watching a small fire leaping about with no source or focus point, Ayreth mostly suppresses any childish laughter. Her hands form a ball in front of her chest and she thrusts them out toward the invisible girl. Six gallons of water materialize and fall from chest height. "No need to get so fired up!"
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"Well, ha ha," Kira replied, once again invisible as even the clinging water vanished. "I'll try and scream less loudly next time my life is threatened, shall I? Gee, I hope I didn't damage these pants too bad..." After a moment's paused she added, "I wasn't that loud, was I? You don't think...anything else heard?"
"If someone would have heard that, they would have heard the fight we just had as well. It's a moot point."
"...Sorry. I thought that was an easy swing." Azri seemed honestly morose at the way things had turned out, even as her strand of webbing vanished into the air. B-but it hadn't been that bad of an idea, right? Or, you know, they could have cast water from the start... urk.
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"Well, ha ha," Kira replied, once again invisible as even the clinging water vanished. "I'll try and scream less loudly next time my life is threatened, shall I? Gee, I hope I didn't damage these pants too bad..." After a moment's paused she added, "I wasn't that loud, was I? You don't think...anything else heard?"
Another batch of water lands in Kira's direction. "Just being certain. Don't be flooded with regret! It was just a 'swing and a miss'..." Ayreth covers her mouth, probably making sure that no soot landed on her face; she is certainly not covering up a mischievous grin. After a moment, she manages to say, "We really should be moving on, either way."
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"Indeed." Azri said, smiling under her hood. With that, she opened the northern doors and began to move down the hallway, pausing by the door to the west and listening carefully to see if anything could be heard from inside. She still didn't fully grasp the layout of this building, but she was trying to piece together where other things might be... and this seemed as good a place to start as any, especially for those who couldn't endure the heat as well as she could.
"Heard or not, it's best if we move. The faster we stop this Redemption, the better. By the way, Kira, do you have an idea where in the temple he could be?" Selena asks while following Azri.
"At night, when it gets cold, he typically heads into one of the indoor areas near the central courtyard. I don't think it's always the same one, though, and he might be acting different since he most likely knows you're around."
After a paused she added to Azri, "It's OK, it was easy. My foot just slipped. It wasn't your fault. And thank you for putting me out again Ayreth. It helped."
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