"can any of you link minds under your own power? I'm considering assaulting their mind again, but with skeets' and anyone else who can's help, that's about all I can think of that doesn't hace a chance of killing theem other than more slow spells or spells that require I touch them"
The sudden jab to the legs catches Lang completely off guard and with a rether ungraceful fall Lang is lying on his back on the ground.
this ellicits a bit of a chuckle from the others.
Who would have though the mighty Avatar is taken down by a girl with a broom. Lea comments.
Lang tries to regain any sense of composure, and with a sudden updraft of wind, lifts Lang back to his feet.
Sara, what is with the broom? You are not going to be expected to clean. And if you do we have plenty of brooms at the temple
That's for sure. Chen adds with an abvious tone that he speaks with experience.
She tries to help him up as soon as he hits the ground which send the broomstick swinging around at the other pair of kid's knees.
"It isn't for cleaning. Grama got mad if I used this one to sweep. This is a special broom Grama and Mama used to fly and get things we didn't have on the island. I don't know how to use it, but I thought I could get help at your home since you know how to fly so well."
Belsayv
The caster duet seems to be ready more quickly than Sadie had hoped, and quickly sidesteps outside of the forming forcefield, four legs moving in concert in a very disconcerting fashion.
The N'gathau seem to simply laugh in response to Yrrin's offer of surrender, and speak in a guttral language to one another. They continue to appear belligerent.
The gist of what they said is: "Oh look, another self-proclaimed champion of justice. Their flesh is always strong. Take him."
The target of Vai's lightning bolt is somewhat less fleet-of-foot, taking the bolt square in the chest and stumbling back, momentarily dazed by the electricity, leaving Yrrin the perfect opportunity to charge in, delivering a mighty blow to the blackened-flesh N'gathau. The monster almost seems to reveal in the feeling of his skin being sliced open, and grins, readying his counter-attack to the paladin.
Meanwhile, Vickory has managed to approach the cage - though she is not quite there yet, she is certain that the N'gathau are focused on the combat rather than her. Vickory spots what appears to be the locking mechanism along with a small door to the cage.
Ace, noting Jaiye's tension, and sensing Ehos' frustration with his datapad decides to try out one of his new abilities "Hey Ehos, I know that datapad only goes so far in allowing you to communicate, but I have a solution, for us at least. After having been exposed to Phaez's telepathy web a few times, I believe I have learned how to form my own. Would you and Jaiye like to be form one with me right now, so we can have an easier time talking? I'd extend the offer to Ginni as well, but I'm pretty sure that's a bad idea, right babe?"
Belsayv
The duel-sided caster's twisted face seems to almost grin in anticipation as he sets his hands into motion, his voice twisting the arcane words together to form a spell. Vai, Phaezeriel and Sadie's bodies begin to be wracked with pain. The twisted caster says another quick word with a gesture, and the ground falls out from underneath Yrrin's feet.
Meanwhile, the hammer-handed and the embedded-axe N'gathau are advancing, moving into flanking positions around the group, leaving Yrrin to combat the one he charged, aiming to fight the apparent casters of the enemy group (namely, Sadie and Phaezeriel). Both of them have advanced within charging distance of Sadie, Phaezeriel and Vai, and are preparing to go on the offensive.
A hail of arrows from the implated-bow N'gathau fly out to strike at the dragon shape of Vai.
Manyshot x2: 1 threat, 1 hit
Attack x2: 1 threat, 1 hit
Attack x2
Attack x2 1 threat
2 crit confirms at +29: 1 confirm
1 crit confirm at +19:
Total 1 crit, 4 hits, 2 many shot arrows:
Vai's roar is truncated into a horrible half-whelp/half-scream as she's pierced by many arrows, sinking in between her scales. Her blood flows freely, but she's still standing, if barely.
If Yrrin managed to stay out of the pit, he'll notice the one N'gathau he is facing is taking a defensive posture - it is seriously wounded... but also seems to be actually /enjoying/ the pain, to an almost orgasmic level.
"I don't think there's a limit or anything, so go crazy I guess. Just don't make yourself sick, hun."
He shrugs.
"Rena, see anything you want me to get you?"
Rena was floating along low to the ground as the group had passed through the food line. She was keeping a generally low profile and a somewhat subdued mood, although all the food had made her perk up, and she had been examining a few things. "It all looks so tasty though. Do you think you could just take some extra of the meaty things please Tybalt?"
"Did they not feed you properly in your tower, Asha?" Rena inquires at Asha's reaction, knowing how often Vare had needed to subsist on Conjured food. Starving someone seemed like an awful thing to do.
"Sure thing. I can't promise it'll be warm by the time I get it back, though."
The staff has been replaced in his pocket to save space and he has begun to float a couple inches off the ground, ending the trail of frost prints that follow like a second shadow.
He floats over to the line and takes three trays. One is filled with a mixture of various meat. One starts with a base of sushi topped with a layer of grilled tuna filets followed by half a barbecued chicken and three baked potatoes. The last tray starts with a base of brownies, three globs of ice cream, several apples and four boxed meals balanced on top.
He sinks back down to the ground and sets the meat tray on top of his head and the other two are on either paw.
With Jericoh on Tybs shoulder keeping the meat tray balanced, he Shifts himself and the trays back over to the empty table Rena's head is closest to.
The mass pain strike passes harmlessly over Phaezeriel, the magic unable to gain any hold on him.
With a small snarl and a swift effort of will, Phaezeriel divides his mind into two fully functioning halves. His primary mind then turns its attention to his own body and he focuses a powerful healing energy into himself, but redirects the healing away through the collective and into Vai.
Phaezeriel watches Sadie and Vai, having seen that they both were targeted by the Mass Pain Spike. His secondary mind holds itself ready to relieve them of their pain should they fail to resist the enemy's spell.
She tries to help him up as soon as he hits the ground which send the broomstick swinging around at the other pair of kid's knees.
"It isn't for cleaning. Grama got mad if I used this one to sweep. This is a special broom Grama and Mama used to fly and get things we didn't have on the island. I don't know how to use it, but I thought I could get help at your home since you know how to fly so well."
Chen and Lea deftly dodge Sara's Broom they seem much more agile than Lang or perhaps they were expecting it.
soon everyone is upright. Chen goes to Sara, perhaps it would be best if I put your stuff on Simba's saddle for now, OK?
Chen goes to gather Sara's belongings to load them on Simba.
Lang looks to Sara. I don't know much about teaching you to fly on a broom but maybe we can figure it out together, we have lots of time.
Belsayv
The duel-sided caster's twisted face seems to almost grin in anticipation as he sets his hands into motion, his voice twisting the arcane words together to form a spell. Vai, Phaezeriel and Sadie's bodies begin to be wracked with pain. The twisted caster says another quick word with a gesture, and the ground falls out from underneath Yrrin's feet.
Meanwhile, the hammer-handed and the embedded-axe N'gathau are advancing, moving into flanking positions around the group, leaving Yrrin to combat the one he charged, aiming to fight the apparent casters of the enemy group (namely, Sadie and Phaezeriel). Both of them have advanced within charging distance of Sadie, Phaezeriel and Vai, and are preparing to go on the offensive.
A hail of arrows from the implated-bow N'gathau fly out to strike at the dragon shape of Vai.
** spoiler omitted **
Vai's roar is truncated into a horrible half-whelp/half-scream as she's pierced by many arrows, sinking in between her scales. Her blood flows freely, but she's still standing, if barely.
If Yrrin managed to stay out of the pit, he'll notice the one N'gathau he is facing is taking a defensive...
Yrrin's blood gushes onto the ground as he sends a line of healing energy through both Belyu and Vai (Letting Phaze give it where it's needed)
and holy damage to all Ngathu near me.
"Um yes. Thank you very much."
She hands him the broom and her back pack, after removing the Teddy bear from it first.
"Kay." She says as she hugs Lang.
"Do we know when the other people will be here?"
"I don't think there's a limit or anything, so go crazy I guess. Just don't make yourself sick, hun."
He shrugs.
"Rena, see anything you want me to get you?"Rena was floating along low to the ground as the group had passed through the food line. She was keeping a generally low profile and a somewhat subdued mood, although all the food had made her perk up, and she had been examining a few things. "It all looks so tasty though. Do you think you could just take some extra of the meaty things please Tybalt?"
"Did they not feed you properly in your tower, Asha?" Rena inquires at Asha's reaction, knowing how often Vare had needed to subsist on Conjured food. Starving someone seemed like an awful thing to do.
Asha shrugged. "They fed me just enough to live. They told me it was for my own good. So I would keep a nice figure. Since they didn't know about all the exercise I was doing when they weren't around. Sometimes Embre would be really mean and bring me food that was still raw. I mean, cooked, but not burnt. I would be so hungry that I couldn't resist at least nibbling at it and then I'd get sick." She shrugged. "Far from the worst thing he did. That was just basic petty cruelty. Stuff he did when he was in a good mood. Anyways, I'm gonna go get food now. Be right back," she said, grabbing a tray as she got to the front of the line and piling it high with a selection of burnt foods and a carafe of olive oil.
Sadie ground her teeth against the pain, repeating over and over that it was just in her head until she could push it back. It wasn't real and she wasn't going to let these bastards get off watching her suffer.
She was worried about Vai, but she knew that she couldn't help her if she didn't focus on dealing with these creatures. She brought up a forcefield that was like circling clear shields all around her body, leaving openings that she could attack through, but nearly impossible to attack her through unless the attacker was using a precision weapon.
"Was that supposed to hurt?" she taunted, hoping to draw the attention towards herself and away from Vai. "Somehow I expected more...competence," she sneered.
*Sadie not belyu
"Maybe...they tend to be pretty distracted by stuff like boyfriends...but I suppose it couldn't hurt. It's a good idea, Midori. Maybe that will help her feel a little less caught in between."Midori stands a little taller, more proudly and there's a shy smile on her face at the praise of her idea from Ignace. "Can you help her while I'm away? Lang-kun wants to leave soon and I came to get the yukata so I would have formal clothing for his ceremony."
"Yes, at least, I'll try," she said. "It's the least I can do after she helped me so much today."
"I...uh, hope you have a good time and that it's a nice trip," she said a little awkwardly, not really sure how she was supposed to talk about the trip she wasn't going on any more.
Ace, noting Jaiye's tension, and sensing Ehos' frustration with his datapad decides to try out one of his new abilities "Hey Ehos, I know that datapad only goes so far in allowing you to communicate, but I have a solution, for us at least. After having been exposed to Phaez's telepathy web a few times, I believe I have learned how to form my own. Would you and Jaiye like to be form one with me right now, so we can have an easier time talking? I'd extend the offer to Ginni as well, but I'm pretty sure that's a bad idea, right babe?"
Ehos smiles slightly and nods graciously. 'Yes please. Phaeze had to go help one of the dragons with something. It sounded urgent.'
Rena watched Asha go over to the piled food section, thoughtful. Asha had been through so much.. yet still was able to be joyful and trusting. In an uncharacteristically somber moment, Rena silently thanks the gods for small miracles.
She follows Tybalt over to the table he had Shifted to, still keeping a low profile in the cafeteria. Dinner was just getting underway, so it was becoming busier as time went on. "Thank you." she says quietly to Tybalt. "So, I'm curious Tybalt... what is sex like for an icy cat person?" she asks sincerly, beginning to pick at the meaty plate almost delicately, trying not to make a complete mess as she had previously.
Ponders
"Possible. Risky. If anything were to go wrong with either the auto pilot or the remote piloting system, there'd be no one on board to bring the shuttle down properly. I don't think Jiminy would risk one of his shuttles in this fashion."
"It's okay." The young shapeshifter says after a moment. "it wasn't for anything important anyway.."
"Well, what do we do then, bylu? The group has left us."
"Follow that thing, it might lead to other prisoners!" She said, quickly following it. If the others needed their help, she'd know.
"Don't you dare put yourself down like that! Not only are you brilliant, but don't think for a second that I'd ever forget that you saw me when nobody else could! As if there were any question of you deserving my affection!" she said heatedly with at least a hint of her usual intensity.
"Oh, come on, there were others that noticed you! And now that there's no one forgetting you, I'm sure you could find more deserving people than me! Probably better looking too."
He's baiting Kitty, trying to get her out of her funk and back to her usual self, at least for a little while.
After a long uncomfortable silence Nanami laughed. "You really are going to force me to pick which class I want to teach, aren't you? Alright, I suppose that I'll take PE then. It can't be that different from training shinobi and I'm not too terribly bad at that."
"It can be very different! at times. Just remember to have equal parts combat and non-combat lessons, along with something for the people who don't want combat lessons at all to do."
Kuros
The attacking townsfolk all start to withdraw at once, but it looks like they're massing for one big wave of attacks rather than retreating.
Hoping to distract some of them at least, Razule drinks a potion and immediately begins to vomit up hundreds if not thousands of wasps, all of which stick together as the speed towards the townsfolk.
Ace, noting Jaiye's tension, and sensing Ehos' frustration with his datapad decides to try out one of his new abilities "Hey Ehos, I know that datapad only goes so far in allowing you to communicate, but I have a solution, for us at least. After having been exposed to Phaez's telepathy web a few times, I believe I have learned how to form my own. Would you and Jaiye like to be form one with me right now, so we can have an easier time talking? I'd extend the offer to Ginni as well, but I'm pretty sure that's a bad idea, right babe?"
Ginni beamed at Ace, pleased that he'd found a way to help Ehos even a little.
"Yeah," she said with a shrug. "I do my best to stay responsible about the people whose minds I have contacted, but the less temptation for me to abuse my powers the better. Even if it starts with good intentions having that much sway over someone's mind just isn't healthy."
"And I'm a little worried the connection might go both ways...I've gotten pulled into both Melody's and Renkai's minds in the last couple of days...cause being caught in a telepathic bond with two folks in a dysfunctional relationship is sooo fun," she added sarcastically.
"Don't you dare put yourself down like that! Not only are you brilliant, but don't think for a second that I'd ever forget that you saw me when nobody else could! As if there were any question of you deserving my affection!" she said heatedly with at least a hint of her usual intensity."Oh, come on, there were others that noticed you! And now that there's no one forgetting you, I'm sure you could find more deserving people than me! Probably better looking too."
** spoiler omitted **
Her eyes flashed with temper and then she smiled.
"I see what you did there. But I only stay visible while I'm being honest, so I couldn't possibly be with anyone else. Since I love you," she said, kissing him and then leaning her head on his shoulder.
There was a long pause before she spoke again. "I'm scared. Not just of getting hurt. This...it hits me right in all the ways I was already insecure. It's hard to know who to trust. I trust you and Keme, but outside of that, I just don't know who did this and that's terrifying. It makes me feel isolated. And I...I think this is a pretty big setback in my studies too. I was already afraid I wouldn't be able to graduate when you do. And now...I wouldn't blame the animals around Avalon if they weren't willing to come to me to be treated anymore. It's hard to learn how to take care of animals with no patients. And Haruka....it doesn't exactly look good to lose an animal companion who's only been with you one day. I barely got to know her at all. And the squirrels....and I don't actually know how to summon an animal companion in the first place. They just sort of showed up before. I still can't do any of my abilities on purpose. Well....sometimes summoning, but it's still dicey. It's like I have to go all the way back to the beginning. Again."
"Yes, at least, I'll try," she said. "It's the least I can do after she helped me so much today."
"I...uh, hope you have a good time and that it's a nice trip," she said a little awkwardly, not really sure how she was supposed to talk about the trip she wasn't going on any more.
"Hai!" Midori says excitedly, folding the yukata gently and apparently oblivious to Ignace's awkwardness.
"You have fun too Ignace-chan. I should be going or I'm going to be late. Lang-kun said we should be back tomorrow I think." Midori thought briefly about giving Ignace a hug, but she wasn't sure it would be proper, and anyway Ignace-chan probably didn't want to be hugged. Instead Midori settles for a smile and a bow. "Goodbye!" she says, on the way out towards her own room.
After a long uncomfortable silence Nanami laughed. "You really are going to force me to pick which class I want to teach, aren't you? Alright, I suppose that I'll take PE then. It can't be that different from training shinobi and I'm not too terribly bad at that.""It can be very different! at times. Just remember to have equal parts combat and non-combat lessons, along with something for the people who don't want combat lessons at all to do."
Nanami laughed. "You don't know much about shinobi lessons do you? Real combat training looks like chores and other annoying repetitive tasks....it has to be pretty advanced before it looks like combat training," she said with a wink.
"But I should go, check out my classroom and stuff. You have at least two people waiting to talk to you. The knocks were at different heights and done by people with different strength."
"Kitty, I don't care if we graduate at the same time or not, okay? You could graduate tomorrow and I could next year for all I care. What matters is us, got it? We will find out who did this and we'll make them pay for it. Until then, just relax. We're days from Avalon on foot, and there is a whole forest for us to explore together."
"Yes, at least, I'll try," she said. "It's the least I can do after she helped me so much today."
"I...uh, hope you have a good time and that it's a nice trip," she said a little awkwardly, not really sure how she was supposed to talk about the trip she wasn't going on any more.
"Hai!" Midori says excitedly, folding the yukata gently and apparently oblivious to Ignace's awkwardness.
"You have fun too Ignace-chan. I should be going or I'm going to be late. Lang-kun said we should be back tomorrow I think." Midori thought briefly about giving Ignace a hug, but she wasn't sure it would be proper, and anyway Ignace-chan probably didn't want to be hugged. Instead Midori settles for a smile and a bow. "Goodbye!" she says, on the way out towards her own room.
"Goodbye," Ignace said, glad that Midori seemed to be in a good mood, glad that she was getting some space from Lang, but also a little jealous that the others were going on the trip without her. But she knew it was for the best. She wasn't ready to be around that many people away from school. They could get hurt.
Nanami laughed. "You don't know much about shinobi lessons do you? Real combat training looks like chores and other annoying repetitive tasks....it has to be pretty advanced before it looks like combat training," she said with a wink."But I should go, check out my classroom and stuff. You have at least two people waiting to talk to you. The knocks were at different heights and done by people with different strength."
"Thank you for applying. I sincerely hope you last longer than our previous teachers." He smiles, chuckling a little. "Though the constant cycle just give us quite the variety of teaching methods!"
"Kitty, I don't care if we graduate at the same time or not, okay? You could graduate tomorrow and I could next year for all I care. What matters is us, got it? We will find out who did this and we'll make them pay for it. Until then, just relax. We're days from Avalon on foot, and there is a whole forest for us to explore together."
"It's...it will be lonely without you if you graduate first. I'd miss you. And I want us to build the pet shop together. Not you do it and I catch up later....I know it sounds insecure, but I feel insecure, so I guess it matches." She sighed. "It's not like I always have to be logical, you know. Okaa-san says that if a man ever thinks he has a woman all figured out then she will always have the tactical advantage....I think I might have gotten some uh...unusual relationship advice from my family," she admitted sheepishly.
"Your mom went to get food right? So we're supposed to wait for her to get back? I don't want to be rude. Even if I'm not hungry."
"Thank you for applying. I sincerely hope you last longer than our previous teachers." He smiles, chuckling a little. "Though the constant cycle just give us quite the variety of teaching methods!"
Nanami laughed. "You don't know much about shinobi lessons do you? Real combat training looks like chores and other annoying repetitive tasks....it has to be pretty advanced before it looks like combat training," she said with a wink."But I should go, check out my classroom and stuff. You have at least two people waiting to talk to you. The knocks were at different heights and done by people with different strength."
"Very clever, Antairus-san....challenging my pride...Well, I'm pretty sure I can at least last the week," she said, laughing. She stood up, bowed deeply and left the room.
"I'd stay at Avalon as a tutor if I graduated first. I'd never start the pet shop without you, love." He kisses her softly, holding her close. "Mom won't mind. She'll send Cait to find us when the food is ready."
Ace nods in understanding "It's ok Ginni, better to be safe than sorry. I promise if I talk about you, I'll only say good things" He says with a smile.
He looks to Jaiye "Will you be joining us?"
Sorun goes sliding through the cafeteria, icy wolf in 'hot' persuit.
"N'yah!" He sounds, sticking out his tongue at the blue and white predator
"I'd stay at Avalon as a tutor if I graduated first. I'd never start the pet shop without you, love." He kisses her softly, holding her close. "Mom won't mind. She'll send Cait to find us when the food is ready."
"So basically what you're saying is stop worrying so much?"
"Alright, then, let's get outside for a bit then...I feel like it will help," she said, pulling back a little so she could stand up.
Ace nods in understanding "It's ok Ginni, better to be safe than sorry. I promise if I talk about you, I'll only say good things" He says with a smile.
He looks to Jaiye "Will you be joining us?"
"Yes, please. Better communication is much appreciated."
settro looks around.
"Assuming the order to not harm them still stands, there is little i can do..."
settro rhythmically flaps his six wings and takes to the sky.
Tybalt was really not expecting that and starts to choke on the sushi he had in his mouth.
His fur bristles up and down before he stops, now just breathing heavily.
"Ugh. Sorry. I uh. I don't know. I never have, uh, done that with anyone before. I'm saving my first time for my Dokonalá, so it's a more special thing and actually means something and isn't just natural urges."
He takes a long drink from a large cup of cream.
adon chases after Belyu, letting her lead the way.
Tybalt can see the feathers on the back of Rena's neck raise slightly at his comment about natural urges, but they go down after a moment. "That seems a little silly. I mean, eating is a natural urge for humanoids. But you aren't saving that." she replies, perhaps a touch defensively.
"Ya, but I'm not gonna die if I don't have sex. I just think sex should be something between people. Like a sign of devotion and intimacy that you truly care about the person you share it with. And I want to save that for my Dokonalá. It's just my personal belief. I wouldn't hold it against you if you believe otherwise."
He explains concisely, if sounding just a little over romantic.
The tiny serpent slips through the garden's tall moist grass... perfectly content...
"Alright, then, let's get outside for a bit then...I feel like it will help," she said, pulling back a little so she could stand up.
"Do you remember the lake?"
"Alright, then, let's get outside for a bit then...I feel like it will help," she said, pulling back a little so she could stand up."Do you remember the lake?"
She smiled faintly. "Yep. The water was cold....but it was lots of fun."
Asha sat down at the table as far away from Tybalt as she could manage.
"So what are we talking about?"
She looked back and forth between Tybs and Rena. "Did I miss something awkward?"