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  • Beqanna

    COTY

    Assailant -- Year 226

    QOTY

    "But the dream, the echo, slips from him as quickly as he had found it and as consciousness comes to him (a slap and not the gentle waves of oceanic tides), it dissolves entirely. His muscles relax as the cold claims him again, as the numbness sets in, and when his grey eyes open, there’s nothing but the faint after burn of a dream often trod and never remembered." --Brigade, written by Laura


    But you don't fucking know me homie you don't want war.
    #31

    Vadar

    Seven characteristics are in an uncultivated person, and seven in a learned one

    Complacency had kept Vadar from intruding into the war. He was content to eat, sleep, and travel as he saw fit, but returning home he’d come across direct orders filtered through the inhabitants of Pangea and just this once, he thinks perhaps he should pay back his debt in full. First concerning himself with Sylva and stealing Valdis, who’d made her way to the dark god’s land without a lot fuss. Second to begin traveling west at the first signs of chaos, which made themselves clear when he’d passed around the edge of Loess and a nearly impenetrable wall of thorny bracket.

    If he had time to spare, the silver black would’ve stayed a bit longer to investigate, but he does what he assumes is best and uses a gift he’d not really had the chance to use until now.

    Trotting through the evening woods, Vadar turned his head in the direction of the outer wall of Leliana’s maze and focused his gaze until it turned deadly and bright. The heat grew, bursting out from his eyes in a wide beam of red light that cut through several layers of her wall and left wide gaps to see through. He chuckled, stopped the onslaught, and blinked a few times for good measure.

    Night caught him and turned slowly to dawn as he broke through the far edge of Sylva’s forest again.

    He took note of what was happening: a strange, shimmering entity-like shield. The Loessian’s beginning to fall back from loss. Dragons exploding, foot soldiers, a few random creatures like his own milling about and wreaking havoc. Where to begin? Isn’t hard to contemplate, not when a few singularities stick out in his field of vision.

    That shield will need to come down, or to be broken. He thinks he might know how but he switches, relaxing, to the gift of creation in order to rest his weary legs. Light is spilling over the horizon and it’s taken him a matter of almost two days to arrive; he needs focus. Under his breath the word amet takes shape, rising out of the ground in hard clumps of volcanic rock. He amasses two golems, large and melded with the scorched bones of the dead, runes glowing in his trademark red along their arms and in their eye sockets.

    One rises near a mare with ruby heels - Mary - and her hellhound companion, Sinner. The third unknown stallion he can hardly see, but maybe they’ll avoid the lumbering, swinging creature. Maybe.

    One curls out of the ground near his leader, Litotes. Further Chaos ensues.

    He breathes deeply, sweat gathering in the dark recesses of his hide but the creation work is done, over. Now he channels what energy he has in reserve and raises his eyes to where the dual magicians hover behind their great shield. For the first time he lets his anger control him completely, and feels the power build between his ears before it erupts in a wide beam of red-hot light, soaring like a god-borne spear which connects (to his utter surprise) with the magician’s attempt at holding back their enemies.

    Info/Ref



    breakdown:
    Vadar passes by Loess and uses a bit of his light beam to burst through layers of the maze wall.
    He arrives in Tephra early dawn, asses the situation from a standpoint and attacks.
    Creates one golem near Mary, Sinner, and Ruinam (can be avoided or not, up to players)
    Creates one golem near Litotes, Kensa, Dawn (same)
    And finally uses his reserve to blast light beam emission, which can penetrate any substance, into the magical shield/wall in hopes of allowing a few Loessian/etc. fighters through.
    #32
    and underneath the layers, I find myself asking what's left
    a hollowed out form, the skeleton of a ghost, the pitiful echo of what once was
    Ash rises then falls like snow across Tephra as flames erupt from every direction in effort to destroy everything – and everyone. Plumes of fire lick the grass and trees, charring every surface touched. Piece by piece, Tephra is being destroyed.

    Castile cannot look around, not yet. His eyes focus on the porcelain dragon defying him. Talons and teeth rip, and their primal screams pierce the sky – a new noise in Beqanna. Wings clap against the wind gusts as they tumble through the air until Castile coils his hind legs between them and pushes off Casimira to force her to the ground and, in turn, for him to gain altitude. It all happens like a domino effect, however. By thrusting her down, she is forced into the hands of Ophanim where her attention then falls, abandoning her fight with Castile as he ascends through the smoke and abysmal darkness. He retains his new color – obsidian body and scarlet red backside – to melt into the shadows and arise above it with smoke tumbling from his body when he reaches clear air.

    From his vantage, Castile’s eyes rove across Tephra’s landscape as it screams out in pain from the blazing fire. Trees groan as they fall, hissing as they burn. Chaos rains down on the kingdom; the tremors of opposition almost seem to awaken the slumbering volcano as the earth trembles.

    Thunder claps. Lightning crackles.

    Above the brewing storm cloud, Castile observes distastefully how the flames flicker away, one by one, by the rain. The storm is too random, too coincidental, to be natural. His lip curls in annoyance as he twists and dives down through the arcane darkness again, relying on his senses to fitfully navigate him. When he breaches, closer to the battleground, another surge of fire escapes his maw toward Leliana’s barrier and those shielded behind it – Mary, Sinner, Brennan – before veering and escalating upward again.

    It’s during this sweep that his eyes first drink in Vulgaris’ fall, then the child with Wolfbane in pursuit. From here, there is nothing to be done. A few quick blinks interrupt the pang of regret in his gut. He didn’t want death, and certainly not of his own. A roar – furious, primal – pierces the sky again as a shift in his weight guides him toward Litotes, Kensa, and Dawn. Each piece of this puzzle is calculated. His gaze – sharp and intense – darts from Leliana to Litotes to Vadar to Cyprin and Starsin. If there is an opening, he intends to find it and seize it.

    As though on cue, and reading his thoughts, the clown-marked male concocts large golems in attempt to harm the Sylvan monarchy – or, residents once he is done with them – and then bursts a beam of light from his body. Castile is spiraling down, tucking his wings and accelerating toward Litotes, the only other soldier seemingly intact. Although occupied by Kensa and the Cove woman (her scent unsettles him), Castile sweeps down and roughly grabs hold of the Pangean leader. He tries hard not to stop. Protectively, Castile clutches the lion to his underside, embracing him with his forelegs as he darts toward the crumbling hole in the shield. To assist in the shield’s downfall – or, at least its flicker of weakness - fire pours from his mouth toward the expanding hole forged by Vadar’s light beam.

    And then they’re through.

    Castile releases Litotes while still flying low to the ground, dropping the soldier down before a heavy beat of his wings diverts his direction toward Leliana.

    Blood dribbles down his neck as its dotted with punctures from the porcelain dragon. A couple gashes streak across his sides.

    Rage flashes across his rigid face before lunging forward, first trying to viciously snap and grope for her. Flames eject next, trying to utilize his every ounce of strength to break her focus from the shield. It won’t be easy to harm her, he knows. Her magic is far greater than he can fathom, but anything to distract her and weaken the barrier is enough. Anything to allow the Loessians further ability to invade is enough. Anything to win this is enough.

    He climbs again, beating his wings down to ascend before gently banking to observe what has been done and what still remains.

    But then his eyes fall to the Sylvans.

    As scarlet blood traces jaggedly down his scales, he calls to them venomously. ”A poor choice for you,” he rasps as he hovers above them with his gaze still darting attentively across the masses. ”I hope Tephra has space for you because Sylva is no longer yours to control. It is a silent wasteland anyways,” he drops down slightly, closing toward them and circling languidly above. ”Thank you for making the decision so easy. I was waiting for the opportune moment.” His massive head inclines to regard them. ”Sylva can – and will – do better without the two of you. And besides, your low numbers have already dropped by one.” Valdis, his own daughter, has been whisked out of the forest, leaving the leaders alone in their home.

    A rough laughter slips from him before torching the world – the Tephrans - again, ignoring the rain as it pelts his body.

    castile


    - Castile is bloodied up by Casimira
    - MAS FIRE
    - He dives down to grab Litotrs so they can breach the shield barrier thanks to Vadar
    - trying to bite/claw/burn Leliana and Tephra
    - dethrones Mary and Sinner
    #33
    Caelestra

    Caelestra moves through the cove's coast in her bear form, her sensitive nose inquiring into the origin of the deep smokey scent, her eyes shut for the moment as she moves with speed. She knew what was going on but denied it, she didn't think it would actually go through, she had spoken to Castile, told him that it would all end in bloodshed and cause many to die. To no surprise, the dragon did not listen, the twisted soul pushed her aside, Cael's words unheard.
    She should have been persistent, she should have never backed down and allowed all of this to happen, she could have done more.

    But for now, Caelestra couldn't doubt herself, she needed to get to the battlefield and aid the injured, help those that had succumbed to the wrath of Loess, something she had tried so hard to prevent.
    The female has a vast expanse to travel but she did not think too much about it, she is focused on arriving and using her abilities to help others.
    She should have gone at the first sign of war, but she was terrified, she knew nothing of war, which is why she was so opposed to it.

    Caelestra is close now, the rich oaky smell of fire faintly touching the tip of her nostrils. The bear halts and stands still, she watches the dark mist flow through the forest, swirling through the trees and then darting upward as a draft creates an eery hum throughout the forest. The bear's ears twitch as she listens to the trees creaking, their bark covered in ash and dark soot.
    Caelestra sprints forward, the current of smoke interlocking with her fur, swirling around the curls of her faint scruff as she bounds toward the battlefield.
    Caelestra is mortified as she arrives, the smell of burning wood and flesh hitting her with strength, her eyes have trouble keeping up with everything that is going on, dark shapes flood through the battlefield, beams of light illuminate what is left of the scorched landscape, dragons take flight and dominate the air.

    As the bear weaves through the torrential chaos she is stopped in her tracks by some sort of creature, an almost dark flame with yellow eyes. The creature bounds toward the bear and clashes with her, Cael stands up on both of her hind legs after a struggle and comes crashing down on the creature, her claws sinking into whatever it was made of. The mother bear growls aggressively as she continues forward, her eyes noticing a fallen horse, still barely alive from the looks of it.
    Her form shapes from an angered bear into a motherly coal-like figure, her side decorated with a constellation.
    "I am here, you have nothing to be worried about" she speaks warmly, her voice still shaky, she is exposed now in her horse form, she has no way of protecting herself if she is to be attacked.

    The young male's vision seems to be clouded, most likely the works of another horse, she has no idea if her healing will cure him of his ailment, but she will try.
    "I'm so sorry if this hurts, I am going to help you. I promise" she whispers frantically as she bows down to her knees, her muzzle instantly touching the stallion's withers.
    The mare closes her eyes as she presses against the wound, blood trickling down her coal-black muzzle as a small dish of light appears around the wound. Caelestra pushes even deeper into the wound as it begins to close up "Hold tight for me, it's almost over" she mumbles as other scratches and wounds also begin to clear up.
    Caelestra opens her eyes and attempts to smile, the corners of her muzzle trembling as she stands up "Find somewhere safe, promise me you will. You are not fit to continue, you are lucky to be alive" her words are rather harsh as she rushes toward him "Promise me you will go back safely" her motherly instinct has already kicked in at this point, her commanding voice rather shaky as she turns around toward the battlefield "I can shield you as you get away" she looks back with a smile as her body grows fur, her frame transforming into a bear as she growls loudly.

    Caelestra stands still, guarding the male behind her, eyes still scanning the war zone to see if any other souls are needing help.




    Quick edit, Cael has come down and is scared, she is tending to @[Jakub] and will help anyone else needing help! She is also an angry momma bear so don't get into her way, unless ya want to tussle! I'm fine with her being injured as well so feel free!
    [Image: YDKFjJC]
    #34

    Aziz does not pay much attention to anything around him, even when another horse tries to speak to him he simply fades into the background, the horse's voice dismissed as he tries to make sense of everything going on.
    Aziz is lost in the chaos, his head darting toward every sound he hears, this is not the world he remembers, most definitely not the one had lived in before his deep slumber.
    Aziz shakes his head and frees himself of the soil attached to his legs, as he moves he notices one of his shelters collapse the side that Loess was fighting on, with his upkeep of the domes gone, the flames and the trembling ground was able to destroy them. He will have to focus his efforts elsewhere.

    Aziz observes as a hole in the shield is created, out of all the horses here he had not expected Vadar to be here, his brow raises as he looks toward him, his body unsure of whether he should aid the curious male or prevent him from providing support. Though the bay male had made his decision long ago, with a loud puff of smoky air the stallion rushes forward, watching the large dragon pass through the hole at speed, he was obviously not able to keep up, but he didn't too. He was patient enough to wait.

    Aziz now slows to a walk, his legs trailing over the scorched earth as he moves forward calmly, the dragon is now targeting the Sylvans, a kingdom he rather admired for the moment, possibly hoped to join at some point.
    Without a second thought, the male stops and allows his legs to sink deeply into the earth, the hot earth burns his legs as he growls loudly, his underbelly stinging painfully as he closes his eyes.
    He will strike while the dragon is distracted, though he has a small window to work with, he had never tried to ward off anything that could fly, especially nothing of Castile's size.
    Aziz breathes deeply as the earth shudders once more, just the same as when he built the domes. Now he must work quickly, earth tremors were not exactly a very discrete way of sneaking up on a dragon.

    After a few painful seconds, a small wave begins to form close to Castile, the wave slowly builds in volume, gathering rocks and scorched debris along with bodies caught up in burning wood. The rocks begin to launch ahead of the wave as parts of it crash down into the earth and reform at the top. What is left of the scorched earth is collected by the wave, rocks, minerals and dirt all gathering in a large mass.
    The wave now hurtles toward Castile, now rather tall and formidable, he hoped it would at least make the dragon move rather than inflict any damage.
    Aziz also tries his best to shield the Sylvans creating a quick and small barrier like the one he had made on the icicle isle, it wasn't particularly impressive or formidable but it could protect them from at least one blow.

    Aziz stands panting as he moves to the side, he doesn't have much strength left in him and so he will have to move fast and smartly.



    Aziz

    —lost and forgotten—


    Aziz has decided to throw some soil at @[Castile] and try to make new friends, he is rather weak at this point as he has been using his abilities extensively, feel free to give him a battering if you would like! He most likely only has enough strength to flee or make a mini shelter for himself!
    [Image: N3F7IUd.png]
    #35

    boy what's normal to you? 'cause that sure ain't normal to me.

     He knows his strength is waning. Sweat beads down his neck and face as he focuses solely on the shadows bending and stretching across Tephra. They draw back for a moment, eager to rush to their master’s hesitation, because he fears his creatures are causing more harm than he meant. They are only supposed to chase but he can feel when he loses control, feel their claws and teeth and eyes flicking wildly. He gasps, then screams, then wrangles them away from the scene they have placed in his mind. The darkness remains but the creatures all die with a loud sigh.

    When Lie’s knees hit the ground he groans. Exhaustion is clear in the way his muscles roll. He heaves in breath after breath, all the while centering his mind around the remaining darkness he created. Death to the creature but not death to the fight.

    Litotes!

    The shadows droop a few inches when he whips his head up to look at Dawn.

    Traitor!

    In an instant he is in his lion form, snarling and snapping and tensed to pounce out of her way. A wicked grin spreads across his face and just as he is about to call out the East’s lack of a stance on the war, a gold and chestnut blur launches between them.

    “Kensa!” he roars, stumbling backward as the polar bear rams herself full force into his lover. Both women topple to the ground in a flurry of claws and hooves. Litotes launches himself over his wife’s crumpled body, mouth wide in a vicious snarl. Dawn has rushed backward enough for him to not land on her; still, he stands between the two, body crouching in a pouncing position, tail flicking wildly back and forth. His eyes are hard and cold and unforgiving as Dawn talks - even when he feels Kensa rise behind him, they remain on his Queen with that sword-like steel. He does not care what it is about, though he knows how furious she is with him and not Kensa, Dawn hurt Kensa and that is unacceptable.

    Thunder and lightning crackle above. Rain pours onto the battlefield, dousing the warriors and flames alike. Still, Lie remains still between the two, golden eyes narrow and fuming.

    “Last I checked, Dawn,” he spits, barely able to contain the frantic energy Kensa’s fall gave him, “The East has yet to take a stance on this war, and Tephra struck first, harming children. At least Loess’ prisoners were not hurt.” The sneer on his mouth is cruel. He tenses for backlash. He rears back, though, when a giant rock creature erupts from the ground. Fear passes coldly through his body until he looks back to flee, only to see Vadar in the distance. Vadar, his ally. A grin returns to his face.

    “Kensa,” he calls as he rushes around the creature now furiously swinging its arms. “Run!”

    Before he can hurtle into her to get her away from the golem, Castile swoops down and tucks Lie to his stomach. Sorrow and fear flash behind his eyes before Kensa is out of sight, though part of him does not worry for his powerful wife. Hurt or not, he knows she knows how to care for herself.

    The dragon grip is tight, and his close proximity to his stomach protects him from an onslaught of ash and wind. Litotes gathers the film of shadows directly below them, coating himself and Castile against the dark sky. They are nearly invisible except for the blast of the dragon’s fire. When the shield begins to break, the manipulator solidifies his darkness and slams it into the barrier along with the fire. They plummet into the opening.

    Litotes’ landing is a harsh stumble due to the speed of his drop and his exhaustion from keeping his magic permanently in the back of his mind. Now only a low-level of darkness remains over Tephra. It looks sticky and ominous, clinging to half-burnt tries mounds of ash. The lion pants as he frantically observes what his magic is still doing, chest heaving while his legs bend low to the ground.

    Ahead is the main battle: Lie can make out Mary and Sinner, then a golem, then . . . Starsin? She is leaning over Ophanim’s crumpled body. The Archon gulps and leaps in her direction, concern for her pain prevalent in his face. Ophie is bloody and broken beneath a tree, and the cremello has absolutely no idea what to say to Starsin. While unaware of the nature of their relationship, Litotes still cares for whoever Starsin cares for. He only looks at her painfully before creating a thick ribbon of shadow and wrapping it around the angel boy’s throat. It solidifies and ties just tight enough to attempt to hold the blood back. Not permanent, but it may hold for a few minutes.

    Castile is in the middle of dethroning tweedle dee and tweedle dum when Lie turns back to the crowd fighting behind him. Adrenaline rushes back into his veins, renewing the strength he quickly depleted. The golem swings its arms and just as Lie is about to bound into their fray, a wave of soil and branch and rock rushes toward Castile hovering just above. Lie is caught in the edge of it, a sharp rock slicing across the right side of his face. The lion cries out in pain and blood rushes down his face and mats his mane. Enraged, he turns to find the creator of such a force and finds a stallion with his legs in the ground. Without hesitation, the Archon snarls and sneers and launches himself at the manipulator. He aims to land on the stallions back and tear at his flesh with tooth and claw, but a side swipe would be enough if he has the sense to move out of the way in time. 

    and if i fall would you know that to do?
    and if i'm caught up would you stay?

    Litotes


    tldr;
    Lie tries to protect @[Kensa] and then yells at @[Dawn] until the golem appears and tries to destroy everything in sight
    @[Castile] picks up Lie and lie makes them invisible and then shoots his darkness down to break apart the shield
    Lie wraps solidified shadows around @[Ophanim]’s wounds and stares at @[Starsin] dramatically
    The side of lie’s face is cut open but the soil wave and then he adrenaline rages on @[Aziz]
    #36
    {maleficar}
    My corrupt nature is empty of grace.
    He has had enough of war, of violence and putrid loathing hurled back and forth. His divine fury churns within his heart and he considers his options. Abandon them and let them all kill each other to leave both kingdoms devoid of life, put them all to sleep and hope they don’t wake up still angry, or cause enough destruction that they have to abandon their awful war. As the ice-cold rain continues to pour across his back, he sighs slowly and feels what magic is available to him. The volcano has devoured Vulgaris’ sacrifice, complete with a loving heart, as well as Gale’s virgin blood.

    He moves quickly, gathering a few of the diamond dragon scales left from Casimira’s demise, and runs to the lava’s edge. These are powerful ingredients and a cloud of fear hangs over him. He prefers small spells and potions, little tricks to keep himself amused, but something of this caliber may cost him more than he expects. With a shuddering breath, he turns to Leliana and Brennen.

    When you hear the ground rumble, give everyone a portal to escape!” he cries over the fire and thunder. He waits until they’re able to answer and then he closes his eyes. Maleficar pulls what remains of his strength and inhales slowly to steady himself. Slowly, the lava rises from its passive state and begins to bubble hotter than before. He dips into the root of the pit and pulls at it, pulls even when the ground begins to growl and split at his toying. The growling grows into a rumble as it shakes and protests his potion as best it can. When the witch opens his eyes, they are pale white and he digs his heels in next to the river of lava as he gives one final pull.

    And then the volcano breaks loose, spewing its ash and fire into the sky with a boom that knocks the tall witch to the ground. His eyes return to their dark amber color as they drift shut, entirely exhausted from his craft. Above them all, the volcano hurls bits of lava as the pool rises up and over the lip of the formation, pouring down its slopes. The molten liquid devours the few shrubs and trees on its way to the war zone, preparing to wipe them all from existence with its touch.
    Mal made the volcano go boom and now he's passed out by the lavaflow. Leli is opening portals for everyone so don't post until she does pls. <3
    Also someone push Ophie into the portal so he doesn't get got.
    #37
    I rise from my scars. nothing hurts me now.

    Even with Brennen’s magic, she knows that this won’t last forever.

    She is a magician, but she is facing her greatest weakness in their onslaught of fire and destruction and she knows that she is a novice at harnessing her gift. She is not prepared for their constant battering of attacks, and her mind is cleaved in half with anguish for what her gift has done in Loess. The way that it warped as soon as she left to turn deadly despite her intentions to have it serve as a warning.

    The inner core of her is shattered with the bloodshed and the pain.

    The outer shell of her is furious with what has led here.

    But it is only when Vulgaris throws himself into the volcano that she truly reaches her end. She angles her head up just in time to see him silhouetted by the fire and the smoke and the destruction and she barely has time to scream “No!” before he is falling. Something implodes within her, sending out a massive ripple of power that blows outward. Tears hit cheeks streaked with blood and mud, and she glows with it.

    But she doesn’t stop.

    She can’t.

    She hears screams and feels Tephra itself burning. She can hear Magnus’ furious snarls as he continues to fight and she knows that his hide is split open in multiple spots. She can see them charging her and she feels when the stallion sends light that shatters through her shields. She sees the monster of dirt and ash writhing through the air and she pivots on her heel, crying out as she opens up a black hole intended to swallow it. Exhaustion grips at her but she ignores the way her body shakes.

    Nothing matters.

    She has to make it matter.

    When the witch cries out, she feels her heart stutter in her chest but she doesn’t hesitate. The mountain begins to groan in distress and she immediately focuses on channeling the magic through her and Brennen into portals. They open up throughout Tephra, in the sky and on land. They are one-way doors to various lands throughout Beqanna. Some are to Loess, with the maze on the other side of the window. Some are to Nerine, some to the islands, and some even to the common lands.

    She flies upward into the ash and the darkness that clouds her home and she begins to open them wider and larger. She glows like a star as she looks down to witness the carnage and destruction beneath her. She sees as Magnus runs to check on his family, the trail of blood smearing his golden sides and leaving a path in his wake. She sees the black panther and the tiger grappling together, their shoulders shredded; they fall through a portal together, unintentionally but irrevocably all the same.

    To others, the weak ones (both Tephran and Loessian alike), she sends a wave of energy to either find their feet and make it to the nearest portal or be drawn in like gravity.

    And finally, when she is certain she has done all she can do, she feels the final bit of magic begin to fade like a dying star in her chest. Blackness begins to creep over her vision.

    She takes a shuddering breath and then begins to fall.

    Her wings do not catch her as she descends, the serpentine scales reflecting the dying light.

    The earth rises up to greet her like a wave and she is swallowed whole by the island before it crashes over her and the magma begins to make its way over the grave where she slumbers.



    TL;DR:

    - Leliana is Big Sad over Vul dying and a small explosion detonates around bee but it’s mostly just air.
    - She opens up a black hole in the sky to try and swallow Vader’s ash monster.
    - She opens up portals throughout Tephra that lead to any part of Beqanna imaginable. These are one way doors so people on the other end can’t wander into Tephra but they could see into Tephra if you want.
    - She tries to give enough strength to the remaining horses to get to the portals on their own or pull them into the nearest one if they can’t make it. So (hopefully) no one is left but you can definitely say she missed someone, if you want.
    - Her magic finally gave up and she passed out, falling to the earth and being buried before the magma reaches where she fell.

    Have fun, everyone!
    #38
    there is but one rule
    hunt or be hunted
    Sinner has tasted the sweetness of dragons before. It was a mix between magical and dangerous, but it did not compare to the tang of dragon scales he tastes now. He can feel his teeth grind against the harden barrier that protects the black-scaled dragon. It barely leaves a mark against him. The hellhound takes note of that—a natural protection that these beastly creatures wear. It was nothing like the sweet taste of Valdis. Ophanim quickly escapes from Sinner, but the dragon turns around and sends a sudden burst of fire towards them. Sinner quickly maneuvers out of the way. He quickly turns to check onto Mary to make sure she still stands there since it was more directed her way.

    A familiar voice sends the dark hound eyes perking forward. His eyes narrow quickly at the sound of his name above the raining chaos and destruction. The hellhound’s expression flickers with irritation and hunger. The smell of blood fills his nostrils and his body fuels with adrenaline. Finally, taking in the sight before him, he realizes it is the white stallion. “Ruinam,” he says as he finds words finally through the hunger that slowly creeps and takes over his humanity. “Glad you could join us.” A wolfish grin spreads across his lips as his eyes flick with blood thirst. “Do what you can to protect Tephra,” he says with a nod before turning his eyes across the battlefield.

    The battle rages on around them. Tephra is burning around all of them. He can smell the smoke burning every part of the volcanic territory now. It spreads quickly, just as the chaos does too. There is too much commotion but he lavishes in the creation of destruction everyone brings into Tephra. It was revenge they wanted. Their hands would get dirty. Blood is what they would get.

    Sinner inhales the smoke and fumes of fire. His gaze flickers here and there, analyzing the situation that plays out. The beat of his heart is racing, but within he is calm among the storm. This was his paradise—this hell. Suddenly, the earth stirs beneath him. Volcanic rocks and scorched bones are pulled together, creating a creation long whispered about in stories. Glowing runes align the arms of the golem creation. Sinner quickly calculates the mass in front of him, but before he can, he sees within the horizon as Castile and Litotes come over the barrier.

    He lets out an angry growl as he attempts to take down Leliana, but Sinner has no time to make it close to Castile as he attacks the Tephra queen, trying to break down her barrier even further. Castile quickly comes back down to assess the damage done. Sinner laughs with humor with every word that falls from his lips. “Sylva will never be yours, Castile. Try all you want, but I will not let you take Sylva!” he says with a snarl between the dragon-king’s words. At the mention of Valdis, he does not show his emotions for the sudden news. Valdis gone? No. He thinks sourly, biting his tongue. He would never allow Valdis leave him without a say. She was his.

    Suddenly, a large groan turns his direction towards the volcano. His eyes light up with fire as he watches the lava begin to spill from the top of the volcano. In the distance he can see Leliana using the last bit of her strength to open up portals for them all to find safety. Tephra was no longer safe now, and neither would be Sylva. But he does not hesitate to go back to the autumn kingdom to protect it now that Castile declared they were no longer the rulers of the territory. But Sinner would never be dethroned so long as he stood. He would not go without a fight to the death.

    The hound quickly searches around as he sees a nearby portal. “Mary,” he yells among the chaos, glowing eyes searching for his co-ruler. “Ruinam!” He yells. Sinner doesn’t wait to find them. He knows they are likely nearby and will follow him or not to safety. All he knows he must return to Sylva before anyone else reach it before him.
    Sinner
    the king of sylva
    character info: here | character reference: here

    -Sinner doesn't accept Castile's dethroning declaration.
    -He takes a portal back to Sylva after telling @[Mary] @[Ruinam] to follow him through it too. Feel free to come if you want Nyx or do your own thing <3

    Sad I missed so much battles. Was a good read everyone <3
    Profile | Detailed Bio | Character Reference
    Most likely always in his hellhound form
    #39
    titus
    one day it's here and then it's gone,
    how are you still holding on?
    Among the cries of war and bloodshed echoing across the volcanic territory, Titus felt a purpose grow within him. It was small at first, but with each attack to protect those coming near Leliana and Magnus filled him with even more determination. Determination he had not felt in so long.

    The tension grew wilder by the moment. The air around him was becoming thicker with smoke. The scent of blood, sweat, and fire all became one. He inhaled it all as he continued to battle the shadow creatures that came from every direction and anything else that came wandering their way.

    But eventually, it had become too much. There started to be too much loss. Too much blood, too much death as war always ended in. But Titus does not give up. He continues to fight where he can. Throw anyone out of the way if he must.

    Then the volcano in the distance groans. His nutmeg eyes find the volcano quickly. His eyes body shakes with fear for a moment, but suddenly there are portals nearby. He watches as some make their way into them. Innately he knows he must jump into one to find safety. Tephra was no longer the haven he had found.

    Quickly, the ocelot jumps into the nearest portal to anywhere but here.
    son of rome and porcia
    male, classic champagne appaloosa
    ocelot-shifting, wings, immortality
    character info: here | character reference: here
    #40

    you could break my heart in two, but when it heals, it beats for you

    She hadn’t thought through the consequences of trying to stop them, only acted. For too long they have all sat waiting, standing still as though peace is the same as doing nothing. The Primarch has turned her eyes upon the natural world every day of her life and through this has discovered that nature destroys what remains immobile. The rabbit can stay very still, and perhaps the wolf will walk right on by...but she is also the swiftest of creatures, because the wolf has a keen nose and sharp teeth and being still will not protect her from them. So she runs, erratic, clever, quiet. And sometimes, even little rabbits turn and fight.

    The trick is never letting them know which little rabbit you will be.

    When the little mustang and the polar bear collide, the mare’s breath is stolen completely. She doesn’t make a sound as they hit the ground. Kensa’s body feels a shock wave of numbness, and pain rolls after it. Trying to catch her breath is unexpectedly hard and she manages only quick shallow gasps as Dawn stumbles back. Having caught the bear as she leapt toward Litotes, it was impossible to completely avoid the massive claws and a gash along her hip bleeds freshly, rain dappling the crimson as it seeps down over gold and white. Blinking against the shadows and the crystalline flashes at the edges of her vision she struggles to lift her head from the ground. Lie’s words sound foreign as she struggles to find her feet and stop them before they can fly at one another again.

    The bear is gone when she looks towards Dawn. Her hind limbs slip in the mud, she doesn’t have anything to say for Tephra, for Loess, as Litotes spits his words…children... Their child is in Loess but she is a child no more. There is danger there too and it is that thought which finally allows her to gain her feet, she needs to make sure her family is alright. Still she cannot catch her breath. Her friend’s face has lost the terrible fury it had held in her other form, and cold sadness washes over the Primarch, blinking rainwater, gritty with ash from her eyes. “If… it is about my family...it is always about me.” The words are roughened, low and soft, but they carry. Stumbling she squares herself, Vader’s Golem rising, cutting short anything further she would say.

    Lie bids her to run and then he is gone, back into battle, surefooted and feline. The golem moves towards them, ungainly but dangerous and Kensa stares at it only a moment before stumbling through the torn grass and mud toward Dawn. It’s hard to speak and there is a froth of blood on the Primarch’s lips, she will not see her friend killed by that abomination. Kensa herself might be able to run, but not far, not like this. Dawn may not be ready to leave the battlefield, and though Kensa had planned to remove others from it she will not use her abilities to force the Queen back home. So she presses her muzzle, pink and cold to the other mare shoulder. “Go, quickly. I can tend to myself.” Whatever Dawn decides, Kensa hurries toward a pool, swirling with black ash and drops herself into it and away from the golem, back into the battlefield where she will find that husband of hers, and decide if she will remove him instead.

    It is not Litotes she finds however, when she arrives, gasping, in another Tephran stream. Fires, weak but furious burn on, rain driving down to hiss into the flames. This is nearly the center of the battle and everywhere there are bodies. Wildly she casts around for Lie, slogging through the stream. The edge is a bloody mire but she climbs it, stumbles to her knees, and rises again to face a stranger. She doesn’t know if they are Tephran or Loessian and in that moment it doesn’t matter, they are strangers and so the other horse can only believe they are enemies. Kensa’s gold trimmed ears turn back, and she tenses to again throw herself at someone she does not wish to fight.

    The ground shudders and the stranger scrambles back, both of them turning their eyes onto the volcano as it roars at the heavens, spewing a black cloud that glows orange from within. Now the roar of battle turns to screams of terror. To linger will mean death and with her almost-opponent fled Kensa searches again for a pale Lion and instead finds the glow of constellations and the golden shimmer of a halo.

    Kensa, bloodied and broken in some invisible way arrives beside Starsin as ash falls around them like fat, choking snowflakes. Each shudder of the earth wants to take the Primarch from her feet but she joins the pair as the portals open, swirling wide enough to pass through. It would be an exciting thing, if she and nearly everyone she’s come to care for weren’t about to be killed in one of a few terrible ways. “Get up Ophanim.” She commands, iron in her smoke strangled voice. Normally she would not presume to do so, and she looks quickly at Starsin, apologetic, before dropping her head to bear up Ophie’s outside shoulder.”Come on, angel boy.” If she and Starsin can get him to a portal, support his broken body just long enough to get away then maybe she can buy Litotes’ survival too. Somehow make a bargain with the cosmos to keep her family whole.

    Kensa




    @[litotes] & @[Dawn] - Kensa gets clawed a bit and squished, but gets up and says some words and then tells Dawn to escape before she gets squished by a Golem. She goes to look for Lie but instead almost gets in a fight with someone and then VOLCANO.

    Kensa comes across @[Starsin] and @[Ophanim] and tries to help Starsin get Ophie up and to a portal if she can and they presumably escape together or you guys can tell her to fuck off and she stumbles into a portal and ends up god knows where. Smile




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