Black Zenith [Adventure RPG / Chapter Four: Fires of Heaven]

SpoilerShow

Strange.

And on that note, I am very glad I didn't invest very much into precision.

Bohw continues to wail on Mayor's shield, striking it with a blind fury as she screams and howls, each slash being deflected by the Golem's defense. Irritated, she steps her attacks up a notch, conjuring a small spell of darkness, rolling it around in the palm of her hand before thrusting it forwards and launching at Mayor. As the attack connects with Mayor's shield, it explodes with a sickening black fire and the sheer impact shaves the golem of his crystal skin, sending him staggering backwards as the weak crystalline armor crumbles.

Mayor wasn't hurt, but that last attack on him seems to of satisfied her maddened thoughts, the Half-Imp glancing around with sudden disinterest in him. But Mayor was determined, even though he had lost his crystal protection he suddenly righted himself and rushed towards Bohw without a moment to think about his actions. He was going to grapple her and keep Bohw in place, if he could keep her occupied for just a little bit longer...

Just a little bit longer... and she'll be back to normal!

SpoilerShow

lol me treating silence like actual silence maybe it was idk

"Bastard." Savannah scoffs and yanks the spear out from the archmage's chest, ignoring the quick spurt of blood that comes out with it. A light from behind her catches her eyes and she turns, confused. Through the cage, she can see Watson and that Guard Captain guy, the captain with fire coming out of something around his neck.

"...What in the hell?..." She mutters to herself. Watson better not get himself killed. Savannah catches sight of Mael fighting the last guardsman and conjures up a tiny, green cloud, which she pitches at him. It hits him with a puff, healing him and potentially debuffing the guy he's fighting.

Heheheheh. If it weren't for the Flames...

wow, you know what guys, if he doesn't do too much damage with the flames, I can take him down myself!

Watson recoils in horror at the explosion of light he's seeing and that might be delivered to Watson's handsomely visage pretty soon.

But then he remembers that he has his own conflagratory concoction! As he downs a spot (well, actually quite a bit) of alcohol, he feels his own flames broiling inside him before he releases them in a stream toward Captain Crockpots over there.

SpoilerShow

I KEEP. FORGETTING. TO POST MY COMMAND. OAO####

I'm alive...Still alive...That person is still wanting my life...Can't allow that. Deep breaths were blissful, yet they clenched at Myra's rib cage as through the air was trying to break free from the skeleton prison. She had to stay alive...there's too much to do. The ravenfolk swam through what murky thoughts she could muster, but most of what came to her were images and intentions. She intends to stay alive. Images of the flying ship and the people on it ran across her mind. The people she's taken arms with- ahh yes, Mayor, he- she?- told her to get away. She needs to let the golem know that she's alive...at least for now. And the others...her mind felt too hazy to remember each one. Even in this state, Myra chose not to press the matter of attaching names to all of the faces. Just stick with the ones she remembers right now, and that should be enough...Can the winds even reach them? ...She'll have to find out once she makes it out of this mess.

Myra clutched the robes still draped around her, the soft, yet tattered feathers giving her a small source of comfort in this moment. She could feel some power within it, too...may it serve her well now. Looking up at the mage guard, Myra calls upon the Winds of Fate to rejuvenate herself and what few allies her head can grasp around in her worn out state.

(( Activate Shield of Feathers, and cast Winds of Fate on herself, Mayor, Savannah, and Mael. ))

SpoilerShow

Bohw continues to wail on Mayor's shield, striking it with a blind fury as she screams and howls, each slash being deflected by the Golem's defense. Irritated, she steps her attacks up a notch, conjuring a small spell of darkness, rolling it around in the palm of her hand before thrusting it forwards and launching at Mayor. As the attack connects with Mayor's shield, it explodes with a sickening black fire and the sheer impact shaves the golem of his crystal skin, sending him staggering backwards as the weak crystalline armor crumbles.

Mayor wasn't hurt, but that last attack on him seems to of satisfied her maddened thoughts, the Half-Imp glancing around with sudden disinterest in him. But Mayor was determined, even though he had lost his crystal protection he suddenly righted himself and rushed towards Bohw without a moment to think about his actions. He was going to grapple her and keep Bohw in place, if he could keep her occupied for just a little bit longer...

Just a little bit longer... and she'll be back to normal!

With a dismissive snarl, Bohw turns her back on the stubborn golem - really, he was quite bad at catching fire - instead looking for a new target to vent her rage. She spots Taran, who is still struggling to recover from the last time she paid him attention. Smiling with mad glee, Bohw drifts over to him as he strains to stand up and cast some protective spell. Just as he seems about to succeed, Bohw conjures a warped dagger of pure darkness, which she promptly rams into his stomach as she lifts him off of the ground, impaling him further.

Meanwhile, Mayor recovers from the staggering blow Bohw left him parted with, and he proceeds to charge at Bohw, trying to stop her murderous actions by grappling her. He succeeds somewhat by pinning down Bohw's arms, preventing her from delivering the killing blow on Taran. Her powers starting to fade, Bohw howls in rage and frustration, flinging Taran away from herself and leaving him to crash into Watson's cage, where he slumps to the ground, back against the bars and blood seeping from his chest as he struggles to draw just one more breath, a total of 466 damage dealt to him. (Roll 4+9+6)

"Bastard." Savannah scoffs and yanks the spear out from the archmage's chest, ignoring the quick spurt of blood that comes out with it. A light from behind her catches her eyes and she turns, confused. Through the cage, she can see Watson and that Guard Captain guy, the captain with fire coming out of something around his neck.

"...What in the hell?..." She mutters to herself. Watson better not get himself killed. Savannah catches sight of Mael fighting the last guardsman and conjures up a tiny, green cloud, which she pitches at him. It hits him with a puff, healing him and potentially debuffing the guy he's fighting.

You heal Mael for 245 health and partially obscure his adversary's view with the cloud, giving Mael a better chance to defend himself. (Roll 8+6+3)

Ofcourse, that proves rather irrelevant just a moment later.

Watson recoils in horror at the explosion of light he's seeing and that might be delivered to Watson's handsomely visage pretty soon.

But then he remembers that he has his own conflagratory concoction! As he downs a spot (well, actually quite a bit) of alcohol, he feels his own flames broiling inside him before he releases them in a stream toward Captain Crockpots over there.

You breathe a thick stream of fire, roasting the captain alive and dealing 735 damage! (roll 13+6) However, he refuses to let up, and though he falls to his knees, screaming as he burns from both your flames and those of the small vial, he continues to pull on the stopper, and with a final tug it comes undone. For just a moment, a dulled, almost whining roaring is audible, followed shortly by the sound of breaking glass. Then all sound is drowned out as all goes white. You and all the others are flung from your feet as a shockwave of flame and power obliterates the very earth beneath you.

You are blinded, deafened, hurt and confused. And your hat is on fire.

I'm alive...Still alive...That person is still wanting my life...Can't allow that. Deep breaths were blissful, yet they clenched at Myra's rib cage as through the air was trying to break free from the skeleton prison. She had to stay alive...there's too much to do. The ravenfolk swam through what murky thoughts she could muster, but most of what came to her were images and intentions. She intends to stay alive. Images of the flying ship and the people on it ran across her mind. The people she's taken arms with- ahh yes, Mayor, he- she?- told her to get away. She needs to let the golem know that she's alive...at least for now. And the others...her mind felt too hazy to remember each one. Even in this state, Myra chose not to press the matter of attaching names to all of the faces. Just stick with the ones she remembers right now, and that should be enough...Can the winds even reach them? ...She'll have to find out once she makes it out of this mess.

Myra clutched the robes still draped around her, the soft, yet tattered feathers giving her a small source of comfort in this moment. She could feel some power within it, too...may it serve her well now. Looking up at the mage guard, Myra calls upon the Winds of Fate to rejuvenate herself and what few allies her head can grasp around in her worn out state.

As he realizes you do not intend the to give up, the mage snarls as he first points at you, counterspelling your Winds of Fate (Roll 18+4, Hit 12+4 V Roll 6+5, Hit 4+6), then reaches to the sky, calling down shards of fire from the air and hurling them towards your prone form. Before they can hit, however, something flashes white nearby, lighting the entire horizon up with stark light. Only half a moment passes before a massive shockwave strikes both you and the mage, sending you flying. You have no idea what is up or right, and can see nothing for the intense light, but you feel the impact of each wood or brick wall you hit keenly, and it is simply too much in too short a time. You black out again.

Stats

SpoilerShow

Bohw: 715/1240
Leader: +12
Mayor: 1135/2275
Sabotage Cd 1
Selfless Cd 18 (1 Charge)
Hellbent Cd 18
Block ready!

Savannah: 315/1500
Aromatherapy ready!
Absolute Zero ready!
Parasitic Relationship ready!
Jungle Fever ready!
Manacharge Cd 9
Runeguard ready!
Wand of Healing: 18

Watson: 428/2550, Indignant Injunction (1)
Wits ready!
Fine Wine ready!
Dragon of the Red Wine Cd 8
Indignant Injunction Cd 16
Water Vase: 3 charges

Mael: 84/1500
Intrinsic Focus ready!
Furious Assault Unavailable

Torhald: 227/1400, Arrest (1)
Bulwark: +1
Preparation: 3 Charges
Shield Charge ready!

Lol rez plz. XWX'

At least my pride is saved by the fact that the flames got her, and not that stupid mage guard even though he totally would've killed her anyway.

MY EYESSSS

AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH

MY HAAAATTTTTT

FURTHER AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH

SpoilerShow

Also, for some reason, the cooldown for indignant injunction is 1.

Exactly how molten are the cage's bars?

SpoilerShow

Also, for some reason, the cooldown for indignant injunction is 1.

Exactly how molten are the cage's bars?

SpoilerShow

thats the duration and also you cant see shit

SpoilerShow

So then what happens if he doesn't kill Amalsan in time?

Savannah finds herself slamming into the stone wall from earlier again, fire roasting her. While she knows it doesn't hurt her as much as the others, she still knows that if her skin isn't one giant blister after this, she'll be lucky. She clenches her eyes and has only one thought. 'Damn it, Watson.'

SpoilerShow

rip fuckin' everybody

basically watson was like, oh hes about to explode? lets breathe fire on him im sure that will help.

I thought it would be fighting fire with fire, not fighting NUCLEAR BOMB with fire!

Eventually, things start to settle down and the light dims out, allowing you to take in the scene. The entire street and then some is completely gone, replaced with what could easily have been a meteor crater, centered where Watson's cage (presumably) was a moment ago. Theres debris scattered everywhere - loose bricks, burning planks and loose dust scattered across what was once the street and in piles against the more solid stone walls. Even as the dust settles, one half of a house falls over at the edge of the impact zone. Fire seems to be spreading to nearby buildings, albeit only slowly thanks to the mostly-fireproof construction of many of the homes.

Regardless, the survivors are scattered far apart, thrown every which way by the shockwave. Fortunately Watson appears to have been blown clear of the worst of the devastation, but Taran's mangled corpse is already being consumed by the fire. Theres no sign of the captain, but a dull glint of glass reveals that the small vial is still intact, lying innocently at the base of the explosion.

One of the guards is still alive. He lies groaning at the edge of the explosion like the rest of you. His sword is nowhere in sight, though.

SpoilerShow

School hath started. Most are busy. :/

Watson uses his baseless assumptions Wits to deduce what the deuce happened. Because apparently someone didn't follow the rules concerning lawful use of superweapons.

Or use of superweapons at all for that matter! Who unleashed this devastating force on hapless visitors to this... you can't quite call it a city anymore, can you? There are no other people here besides this renegade police force of asylum attendees. A city can't qualify without citizens.

SpoilerShow

SERIOUSLY, MAN, it got reduced from 16 turns to 1!

Savannah clutches at her head. God damn, that hurt. She remembers the explosion and slamming into a wall again and possibly passing out. She grunts and touches a bump on her head, wincing. Yeah, that hurts.

"Where... the hell am I?" She glances around to try and get her bearings. Where are the others?

SpoilerShow

Yeah school and me being sick have really fucked up my schedule. My bad.

SpoilerShow

SERIOUSLY, MAN, it got reduced from 16 turns to 1!

are you talking about indignant injunction again? first of all the cooldown has nothing to do with the duration and secondly the guy died and the timer from last turn indicated when you would be getting your hitpoints back. which is now and admittedly i forgot to include a sentence on that, but suffice to say that Watson is as of now feeling significantly less roasted

SpoilerShow

Yeah, I was talking about indignant injunction, but about the duration. Hence the devastating force comment. Also yayy for feeling less like a roasted hotdog during nuclear winter!

Savannah clutches at her head. God damn, that hurt. She remembers the explosion and slamming into a wall again and possibly passing out. She grunts and touches a bump on her head, wincing. Yeah, that hurts.

"Where... the hell am I?" She glances around to try and get her bearings. Where are the others?

You're currently lying against a mostly-undamaged wall at the edge of the blast radius. You appear to have been blown the farthest away from the center, though perhaps that owes to how you were also the farthest away to begin with. Mayor is closest to you, slowly getting back on his feet after having been slammed against a rock foundation. The others are spaced out not far beyond.

Watson uses his baseless assumptions Wits to deduce what the deuce happened. Because apparently someone didn't follow the rules concerning lawful use of superweapons.

Or use of superweapons at all for that matter! Who unleashed this devastating force on hapless visitors to this... you can't quite call it a city anymore, can you? There are no other people here besides this renegade police force of asylum attendees. A city can't qualify without citizens.

Well considering the bright light and the rather ridiculously powerful explosion, you would hazard a 'guess' that the little vial is a powerful source or container of vast energies which, when released, create an explosive, fire-based effect aswell as a nova of pure force - what knocked you back - with tremendous destructive power. Obviously it is all magical... And yet that should have been impossible as magical items are suppressed while within your cage, so you're not quite certain what precisely that even was. The odd light effects of the vial seems to be notable too as its luminance was near-blinding even before it was opened, yet the captain was able to keep it easily hidden merely by hiding it beneath his breastplate.

You also noticed that the fire acted rather oddly before being fully released - it formed into tendrils of fire that seemed to act independently... Which mostly involved burning the captain near to a crisp in the moment before the explosion.

Also, it hurt. Its probably safe to say that if you had stood any closer or if your cage had not dissipated with the captains death, you too would have been killed. Actually its rather neat that your cage disappeared in such a timely manner.

Kind if unrelated, you've also noticed that the second sun seems to have grown slightly in size from what you remember. Thats certainly odd, as it remained unchanged throughout the past thirty years or so.

Regardless the next logical step would be to make sure your allies are alright, then move on to the center of the city where the king is presumably waiting for you, if the guards' words are to be trusted. If that is the case you are probably in a lot of trouble and fleeing would be the logical option... For anyone who doesnt have a band of adventurers on their side. Seriously how have you survived this long. Your wits cannot find any logic to this.

Lastly, your hat seems to have sadly been burned to a crisp while you were blinded.

SpoilerShow

Lastly, your hat seems to have sadly been burned to a crisp while you were blinded.

I cannot put Watson's response to this in words. 0_0

also, homeworrkkkkk

I will come up with it, damnit

SpoilerShow

DON'T LOOK AT ME THAT WAY ;_;

SpoilerShow

Meanwhile, during Thunderpaw Quest:

speaking of which this is the reason i no longer have faith in non-combat scenes

SpoilerShow

fuck fuck fuck fuck

Mayor... slowly rises back to his feet, stumbling and staggering as he attempts to balance himself on both feet, still recoiling in shock from the attack. His armor was mangled and covered with soot on his right side, but seemed to be generally disinterested in the damage to his body. He gripped his twisted right arm and bent it back into place, allowing it to heal as he surveyed the wreckage.

He spotted Bohw, lying under some rubble and un-moving. Immediately worried, Mayor ran to her side to quickly cleared the debris and observe her wounds. But fortunately (?) Bohw seemed to be fine, the only noticeable wound was a gash on her head leaving her understandably dazed. As she tried to regain her bearings, Mayor lifted her up and slung her over his shoulder. He gestured to the others, waving them over to his position with his free hand, one of their group was obviously missing: Myra.

He only had a vague idea of her location, but it was better than no idea at least. Pointing towards the center of the town and beginning to walk off in that direction, he urged the others to follow him.

SpoilerShow

Thus continues my trend of not checking the thread and assuming I did.

Savannah grunts, gingerly assessing the damage. She's lucky it was fire and not... not fire. After a quick pat down, Savannah finds that she's not dead enough to function like a normal person for the time being. As she shifts position, however, she feels something jab her in the side. Confused, she reaches into her pocket.

"What the..." She pulls out her healing wand, which somehow got... bent back into the proper shape. It's straight now (or at least straighter than it was an hour or whatever ago). Deciding not to make a big deal of a... whatever thing, she glances around. She spots Mayor, who was down just a little while ago, with Bohw draped over his shoulder. He motions around then points and starts to head off. With one last glance at 'ground zero' of that weird explosion, Savannah goes to follow Mayor.