In this world, Magic is Everything. All people, all races, are granted with the power to perform mystical and magical feats via grimories, mystical tomes granted to each and every child on their 15th birthday. Those blessed by the mana can have their names written down in legend.
Shattered Grimoires is the work of the mind(s) of Ardere & Shattered Grimoire's staff. All characters and content are copyright their creators, and may not be replicated without their creators' permission. Black Clover is owned by Yuki Tabata and published by Viz Shonen Jump. All images belong to their original owners. The theme you are currently viewing was made by Eliza of ElizaCodes exclusively for Shattered Grimoires.
Candycane Carnage The Town, and the Church are both on edge trying to figure out what is going on, and causing such a strange occurrence near their home. They have even begun to actively enlist the help of the Azure Deer who share the city with them to figure this out. However during a meeting with everyone present including yourselves a rumbling can be felt almost like an earthquake. When everyone goes outside what sees them shakes you all to the core. A Candycane man, the scent of peppermint fills the air, but despite it’s sweet appearance, and scent it starts to try, and destroy the town. Standing well above a two story house it is up to you to stop it while the knights, and church evacuate the city. Details Maximum Number of Players: Max 4 people Minimum Word Count: 2,000 Location: Nairn Special Requirements: Must have completed Abominable Snowfight, and each person in this mission must write at least 1000 words before it can be completed, and you can defeat the Candycane Titan NPC Information What NPCs are in this mission? Please fill out the template for any notable NPCs. While those you have to socially interact with during the mission are not required any enemy that is presented in the mission must be listed in here.
Name of NPC: Candycane man "Titan" SPOILER: Click to hide
Health Limit: Grand Physical Speed: 5 m/s Physical Damage: Intermediate Magic Element and Types: Food (Candycane) Combat Style: It doesn’t seem incredibly smart, and is just wandering through the city aimlessly causing destruction with no reason or rhyme. Better stop it before the city is destroyed. And watch out for the shards of Candycane he flings out they are sharp. Additional Information: Stats: Power- 60, Durability- 40, Sensory- 10, Stamina- 30, Control- 20
Post by Satori Ryuutei on Dec 23, 2020 18:11:11 GMT -5
The situation with the Yeti and Reindeer was a constant issue. What Bengal was confused on was that he and June had already handled the source of these creatures once prior. More than that, they'd already handled Frost and Krampus. So, what was causing them to continue spawning like this? This meeting was something that had happened prior but it had been in regards to the first instance. Now they had far more information and the Azure Deer were trying to figure out exactly what was going on. Bengal had his own ideas, but speaking just yet was a bit rude.
Besides, no matter how observant and experienced he may be, he was no sensory mage or scout. There were things he simply couldn't know and had to lean on others for. Bengal's gaze shifted briefly around the town as he and Verena entered into the town of Nairn once more. Dumping the Yeti corpses next to the deer bodies he'd already acquired, he carefully lifted the body up into his arms as he moved toward the nearest Knight whom balked at the grisly corpse.
"Get a sheet for him and ask around. He may have family around." Bengal stated bluntly, causing the man to nod with a grim expression, carefully accepting the body and coat along with it. It wouldn't do for children to see the corpse. Bengal was aware of the cultural difference, here. He had no desire to scar the weaker minds of non-Ryuutei children. Shifting his gaze forward, Bengal began to make his way forward through the rising snow that had begun to build up.
The scent of peppermint was strong on the air now. His eyes narrowed slightly as he lifted a hand up, catching the attention of one of the Azure Deer that quickly responded and jogged over.
"Yes, sir?" The man inquired, showing respect despite the fact Bengal was no Knight himself.
"Keep a strong perimeter, but evacuate the town center. Everyone in their homes." Bengal stated firmly, causing the man to blink a few times in confusion.
"Why, may I ask sir? Our sensors haven't detected anything abnormal." The deer's response was understandable, and Bengal didn't appear insulted by the question.
"I smell peppermint. The Golems that were summoned out of nowhere last time came out of nowhere despite the barrier and sensors, remember? After that, Frost showed up and killed several innocents. We need to try and avoid that if possible. Everyone in their homes. Worst case I'm wrong and they can grumble about being herded a bit for their own safety." The explanation caused the knight's brow to furrow.
"But you killed Frost already, sir. How could he appear again?" This caused Bengal's lip to twitch upward in amusement.
"Do you know how many times I've killed him in Krampus, Greenhorn?" The words caused the man to twitch briefly, uncertain how to respond to the last word as Bengal's feline eyes focused on him quietly.
"There is little logic, nor permanent death, for creatures that are birthed from nothing but natural mana of the world, and wills. Evacuate the town into their homes, please." The emphasized words, along with his meaning reminded the Knight of whom he was talking to and he quickly nodded his head once before dashing off. Bengal grunted.
"Hopefully I'm wrong and they can just be pissy with me for a bit." He stated with a sigh toward Verena, before walking toward the main town center where he felt various ki signatures gathering. The meeting was supposed to focus on information gathering for why the situation hadn't ended yet, it would likely be a bit of a conversation.
Post by Verena Reinsberg on Dec 31, 2020 12:33:10 GMT -5
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MANA POOL 110/110
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[attr="class","verenaver2scroll"] Verena had followed Bengal back into the town of Nairn. The White Tiger seemed to have a lot on his mind. He clearly understood something that she didn't. That just showed the gap in their experience, however. Still, it wasn't as if that experience gap bothered Verena. She knew she had much to learn, and she was fine with that. That was just part of the experience that was life. Still... if she could settle things with less violent manners, she would be all the happier for it.[break][break]
It seemed like the Azure Deer seemed to be getting more and more information as to what was going on. So they weren't doing nothing and twiddling their thumbs. At least, based on the interactions she observed between Bengal and the other mage. They were just sticking to what they were specialized in doing. Information gathering. She couldn't truly fault them for that, but people were dying. Was this truly the time for hesitation?[break][break]
The knight, who looked upon the body discomfort suddenly grimaced for a different reason. "That's... Marcus..." he mused, recognizing the body as the knight quickly moved to grab something to cover over the body. "Y-Yeah, I'll tell his wife and daughter right away. Uhm... thank you for bringing him back. He's been missing for a few days. A simple patrol mission... Spirits, how could this happen..."[break][break]
Well... that was unfair. The body did belong to one of their own. Verena scowled at herself internally. It was easy to be so judgmental in these cases. To point the finger and turn a blind eye. The Magic Knights were elites, and some were doing their best. To die in the line of duty--to an early death at all... it was sad. Too sad. What right did she have to point the finger in this instance? One of their own had been killed in action, and here she was still critizing their own lack of action. The brunette did feel a little guilty about that, but she would have to put that guilt in a mental shelf for the time being. It held little place all things considered.[break][break]
Peppermint... that's right, since coming back into town, she had picked up on it, too. Bengal clearly recognized something major going on. What was going on? He was deathly serious about evacuating the town. Come to think of it, Bengal seemed to have quite a bit of insight into what was going on. More than she had, at least.[break][break]
"...Bengal, how often have you done this?" she asked.[break][break]
The fair skinned woman might have asked this, but she didn't expect an answer. Or perhaps, she hoped that that wouldn't be the case. Precognition was not a magic that she expected to exist, and the idea of the same events reoccuring was hard enough to wrap her mind around. But it was something much more preferable to the idea of loops that Bengal was implying--no, that he was outright saying.[break][break]
Verena let out a sigh. No, she couldn't begin to wrap her mind around such a concept. It might be for the best that she don't do such a thing, however. If she tried giving it thought, she risked the burden of insanity. In any case, she was just going to go with whatever happened. Whatever was going on, it seemed as though this threat was serious. Very serious. She just hoped that she'd be useful here.
Still, something was said that piqued her interest...[break][break]
"Golems?" she inquired, her eyes showing a strange, almost different set of emotion: that being of determination.[break][break]
Verena loathed the idea of golems being used to harm innocent people, and if someone was utilizing golems in such a manner, then she felt it as her own personal duty to try to stop them. Golems shouldn't be used in such a way. That was what she felt, at least. If someone was using golems for malicious purposes, then...
Post by Satori Ryuutei on Dec 31, 2020 13:23:47 GMT -5
Bengal's gaze shifted down toward Verena as the woman inquired on how many times he'd done 'this'. A vague question considering the context of everything. Releasing a slow breath Bengal rubbed the back of his neck in thought as they made their way in the direction of the town center.
"I've killed yeti, mutated deer, little elf fucks and creatures based on folklore and mythology of Clover of all sorts hundreds of times. I've killed hundreds of people. I've killed thousands of creatures. Saved just as many, more, probably but I won't swear to that." His gaze shifted along the knight mantles. No one that he recognized.
"If you mean this specific instant, once before this. If you mean these specific creatures, a few dozen times inside the dungeon and a few times out of it. But this is the first time it's been such a blatant repeat outside of a Dungeon." His gaze shifted along the outskirts of the village itself. "If I had time, I'd like to analyze the creature before we crush it this time. If this town is effectively acting as a temporary, weaker Dungeon, that's important to know." Shaking his head slightly, Bengal released a slow breath.
"Mana Zones are already a problem. Dungeons are too. Having them combined is an even greater issue if they can start to do that. Last time I killed Frost here was a few days ago, and he was sapient. Will of his own. Nothing like when he was in the Dungeon as a mindless monster guarding a floor." His gaze shifted down toward Verena, arching a brow. That last word in regards to the golems had apparently caught her attention, that was interesting.
"Golem, yes. They're commonly used as fodder in war and battle after all. Many monsters use them in the same way. Hell, I used them that way in the war against Diamond." Shrugging his shoulders, he contemplated that reaction. It wasn't unusual for Golems to be used in such a way. They were weapons, like any other. Perhaps she took offense since it was her specialty? Though it was his own as well. Few could match the man in terms of Golem capabilities, especially with the bone bracelet of his clan.
"You've never been in a Dungeon I assume, Verena?" She was reacting badly toward the idea of repeating events. Perhaps it was important for him to explain how they worked so that it seemed less like a chaotic mess and more of a... chaotic science.
Post by Verena Reinsberg on Jan 7, 2021 19:22:32 GMT -5
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MANA REGEN 25 IC // 20 OOC
MANA POOL 110/110
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Verena wasn't particularly interested in how many lives Bengal had taken, but she supposed that was on her. The culture that Bengal knew and that he embodied simply took one look at life and death, and saw no difference. The two were so closely intertwined that it didn't see the value in one life or many. If one person died, another person would take their place. Or perhaps it was because they valued both equally that they acted the way they did.[break][break]
It wasn't as if the woman was an expert in the Ryuutei. The Reinsbergs interests were simply peaked as a result of the Diamond War, and the aftermath. Of course... Verena also knew of the incident that Bengal was just as famous for as his prowess in the war itself. But she wasn't here with him right now as a Reinsberg. She was just Verena, a wanderer without any one place she called home. There was no issue being seen with him. Nobody knew who she was. Nobody would remember her. That was why she never stood out or drew attention to herself.[break][break]
Bengal began to talk about dungeons and mana zones, a light bulb going off in her head. That was right, Cyrus was wanting to do something about them, too. He was trying to gather funds and status so as to start an organization dedicated to researching dungeons for the public safety of citizens, but also one that wouldn't be officially sanctioned by the Magic Knights. If she recalled, it was going to function as a private organization with volunteer services.[break][break]
Should she bring that up now? The brunette thought about it, but the thought was lost on her when Bengal began explainings. "No... It's not that I don't know how golems are used. It'd be pretty sad if I didn't by this point. It's... I strongly dislike when golems are used to prey on innocent people who can't fight back. The people here aren't exactly weak, and there are Magic Knights. But there are still plenty who would struggle against a capable golem. That thought... that frustrates me, as someone who relies on golems," Verena explained, eyes to the ground as she let out a small sigh.[break][break]
"The Eldrich Hat. I once visited it because I heard it used a rare type of magic, but used it to torment others with golems. I couldn't do anything then, and it's bothered me since."[break][break]
Verena paused. Why was she sharing all of this? She hadn't exactly known Bengal for long. It wasn't that she had anything against him, but she also didn't normally share information like this. She hadn't in some time. Even more so after Kikka. The Reinsberg wasn't quite sure, and it bothered her. She needed to be more careful about how much she shared. She didn't think Bengal to be someone who would use anything she shared against her, but...
Post by Satori Ryuutei on Jan 7, 2021 20:08:26 GMT -5
Bengal grunted softly as she explained her feelings, contemplating the information quietly to herself before shifting his gaze upward in contemplation. "Death and combat are natural things to me, and my clan. So the idea of protecting others to the point where a simple golem would cause harm is... idiotic, to me. Every citizen should be about as strong as you at least. After that they're welcome to do whatever they wish. But to not even be able to defend yourself, your home and rely on others that specialize in combat for it is a weakness I can't ignore. Most of this entire Kingdom would die in a year within my clan. This country is weak." Bengal's tone wasn't one that was harsh or criticizing, he was simply speaking what he viewed as facts.
"However, the idea of protecting those within your fold isn't uncommon. There are always warriors that stand above the masses as combat specialists. Even in my clan, where power is what rules, the definition is broad and warriors are those that stand above the rest to protect them from what an average clan member cannot manage. Just as it is our duty to defend our immediate family and children until they're strong enough to become adults of their own." In this way, he could understand her desire to protect others. But what he couldn't understand was something else.
He stepped over a large chunk of ice as he glanced down toward Verena. She'd been to the house with the possessed hat, hm? Had that given her a bit of trauma? It was a rather unfortunate and twisted Dungeon due to its unnatural nature. Something man-made from an experiment gone wrong would likely never have positive results.
"But I don't see how others using Golems to do ill is your responsibility. That shouldn't be the reason that you take interest in this in my opinion," his head tilted to the side slightly. "For instance," he pointed at the blade at his hip.
"If someone used a sword to slaughter my family. Does that mean I should be angered at every bandit or brigand that swings a sword at an innocent?" Of course not. He shook his head at the rhetorical question. "The sword is a tool. Even if I entirely relied on it, that's all it is. A golem is the same. There are a few exceptions." His gaze briefly lifted toward the biceps of his left arm, where his armlet rested.
"But golems are a whole, are just tools. You're not a fool, you're incredibly clever actually. So I'm curious why you allow your view to shift in such a way?" His head tilted to the side as they walked, though he was enjoying the conversation he did keep a keen focus with his ki on their surroundings. He didn't wish to miss anything just because he was enjoying a conversation.
Post by Verena Reinsberg on Jan 8, 2021 23:26:51 GMT -5
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MANA REGEN 25 IC // 20 OOC
MANA POOL 110/110
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The woman listed with interest as Bengal explained the purpose of tools. This was all familiar knowledge to her, however. She even knew that's what golems were. In a sense, magic was just another tool man had access to. The tools themselves were neither good nor evil, right nor wrong. It was entirely the wielder. This logic wasn't lost on her.[break][break]
But ... she did take issue with some aspect of what Bengal said. She knew that it was just a result of his own upbringing and culture. It was also likely a result of his own experiences that had formed this opinion. But... she felt differently. There were always going to be people who had limitations. That didn't make their lives any less valuable. Not everyone could simply grow to that strength. And even if they could, that went away with age.[break][break]
Bengal did seem to understand that much, but he simply did not care. It was not worth his care, at least. But she had little ability to change his mind, she felt. For those who simply could not defend themselves, did they deserve to die, she wondered. The answer she came up with was no. The people here were good, as a general rule of thumb. Even if they used religion as their excuse for it, it did keep them largely in line.[break][break]
"...It isn't my problem," she admitted. "...I know that it isn't. And I know that golems, just like any and all types of magic, are just tools at the end of the day. They're incapable of acting on their own. I have read about an advanced type of golem, but even they have limited sentience. At the end of the day, golems are just constructs that obey, and nothing more."[break][break]
Verena paused. There was still the matter of Bengal's question to be answered.[break][break]
"...It's because I like golems more than people," she admitted, her eyes meeting the ground. "You can trust golems more than a stranger. More than even the people closest to you. People are terrifying. They take on a variety of roles that have societal meaning, but they can also be the same ones that drive a knife through your heart. They can also show love, compassion, mercy, and other things. I love people, but I hate them. And I don't know what I feel more..."[break][break]
"Golems are much... simpler. And they can't betray you. That's why I can't stand it when golems are used in ways I don't like. Even if they're not mine..." Verena said, suddenly stopping in her tracks.[break][break]
"...I can't stand to see something I care about being used in such a way. It's not as if I've used golems in what I'd consider ethically at times, either, even if I regret it. I know how foolish it is, and how childish it is. There's no sense in getting worked up over it, but I do anyway."
Post by Satori Ryuutei on Jan 8, 2021 23:54:11 GMT -5
Satori hummed as she explained herself, and a slight smile formed along his lips. Leaning down suddenly so his face was closer to the young woman's, feline eyes looking down into her own through the glasses adorning her nose.
"Don't call your own desires childish. Don't bring down your own goals and ideals like that. If you don't like it, then you don't like it. Not everything has to be complicated." Satori straightened, crossing his arms over his chest as he arched a brow down at her. "I like it. The fact that you hold such a passion toward something is a good thing, Verena. It can give you strength in the moments where you have none. Things like that are important... and it's important not to put them down just so others don't call them such things. If someone calls your desire childish, they're fools that don't have something they feel strong about yet, or hypocrites that are putting their own 'things' above yours." The large man shook his head, shifting his gave toward the center of town with a bemused expression.
"I for one, like that quite a bit. Even if I don't agree with it, that passion in your eyes when golems are brought up? That's attractive." With this, he stepped forward, moving toward the center of town casually while he smirked, glancing back at her. If her feelings were that potent then perhaps he had an idea after all.
"If it appears, I'll leave it to you. You can do it if you really try." The words were simple, honest belief in her abilities. Shifting forward toward the city center where the other Azure Deer were now evacuating civilians and focusing their numbers for the information exchange itself.
Post by Verena Reinsberg on Jan 9, 2021 3:34:03 GMT -5
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MANA POOL 110/110
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Verena blinked. It... wasn't childish? The decision was something that was just the result of emotion. There was no logic to be found in it. That wasn't to say she looked down on emotion. She wasn't robotic. But they had a time and place. Then again... it wasn't as if they were in the heat of battle. The woman put a hand to her chin, thinking on it.[break][break]
It wasn't something to be chastized about but instead praised for. She thought about how the Ryuutei might have incorporated this thinking into what she knew about them, or if this was just something that came from experience. She couldn't think of a connection from what she knew of his family, so the only logical explanation she could think of was that this was a viewpoint the White Tiger had arrived at during his travels.[break][break]
Of course, it wasn't that she thought this to be a bad thing. The opposite, really. However, Bengal's response had surprised her. Though he said not to complicate things, it was her instinctive reaction when her expectations were met with the opposite. Everything had to make sense. Everything had to be logical. In such a chaotic world, clinging to logic made things easier. It was almost ironic, given that her reason for such necessity was one born out of emotion.[break][break]
"I for one, like that quite a bit. Even if I don't agree with it, that passion in your eyes when golems are brought up? That's attractive."
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Almost immediately, her cheeks flushed. Attractive? Nothing about her could be attractive. This was different than just being called cute. He had called her such earlier, though similarly, it wasn't about her appearance. It was just something she had done. But nothing about her was was cute, nor was anything about her attractive.[break][break]
If anyone knew... then surely their perspectives would change. Then again, weren't the Ryuutei cursed, too? She had heard about it some time ago, though only in passing. She didn't know anything about it. Maybe, just maybe... it didn't matter to him.[break][break]
"Did you hear? The White Tiger lashed out at the Princess!"[break][break]
"Oh Spirits, are you serious?"[break][break]
"What was he thinking?"[break][break]
"To think, we were this close to considering speaking to him and trying to make allies of him..."[break][break]
"He's a traitor to the Crown. As a family, we should view him, and his kin as enemies."[break][break]
A brown-haired man with a goatee placed a hand on Verena's shoulder. His fierce, but distant blue-eyes eyes met her own. "Girl, never speak to the White Tiger. Do not even be seen with him. He and his kin our enemies to the Crown, regardless of their blessing. You'll go against everything we stand for if you do. You wouldn't want our family to look bad, would you?"[break][break]
The memory flooded her thoughts, drifting back to that time five years ago, before she received her grimoire. If only things hadn't ended up that way. She didn't have her families same issue with Bengal, especially now that she had a degree of freedom, but she would never be able to repair her broken family if she allowed herself to grow close enough to call him a friend. Right now, they were just two strangers with a similar purpose.[break][break]
"...I apologize, but I'm not attractive. I'm quite ugly, in fact," she responded in kind. She wasn't talking about her appearance, though she still had insecurities about that. She knew herself better than anyone.[break][break]
At the end of the day, she was a Noble. And she was one who did plan on, eventually, returning back home to reclaim her spot as the family head. To her, that meant having to sacrifice some aspects of her life. Her family did not deserve her kindness. They themselves did not deserve kindness. But... even still, she loved them.[break][break]
The woman had no reason to, truthfully. She didn't have any particularly happy memories that she could recall. There were just days that were comparatively less sad than others. But... if a person's home could not truly be called 'home', then what did that leave them? And what did it mean for her younger cousins? She shuddered to think of the future generations of the family.[break][break]
So she had to. To save her future nieces and nephews from a fate that they wouldn't ever ask for. That was whom her kindness was truly meant for. And that was why she couldn't afford to jeopardize that future. So it meant that she had to be ugly. At least... for now. The future was ever-changing, at least.[break][break]
The large man offered her a chance at taking on the golem. That was more than she could really ask for. "...Thank you," she simply said.[break][break]
All she could do now was to wait on whatever type of golem was likely to appear.
Post by Satori Ryuutei on Jan 10, 2021 18:30:52 GMT -5
As she commented on being ugly, Satori outright laughed. A deep, rumbling sound filled the air.
"Eye of the beholder," he replied calmly, shifting his gaze forward. "Such things are too opinionated to say. I find you attractive, so that automatically renders such a point null to me. Others may find you hideous, it matters little." With this the large man pushed through the last bit of the crowd, glancing around briefly before coming to a slow halt in front of the circle itself.
"Alright calm down," he spoke firmly, the deep voice rumbling out causing the deer to quickly quiet and look toward the large man whom grunted. Arching a brow and glancing between the various faces.
"What do we know so far? There are clear signs of repeat incidents, despite the fact I already killed Frost and Krampus both once. The Yeti had continued as have the deer. Have there been any other signs?" The question caused low murmurs in the crowds, heads shaking slightly as frowns spread across various faces in response. He grunted once in response, clearly annoyed.
One, however, spoke up. A young woman raising her hand tentatively, causing Satori to arch a brow and nod his head toward her, a silent affirmative for her to go ahead. She frowned, slowly lowering her hood to reveal a beautiful face with its left side twisted due to severe burns of the past. Satori didn't even blink.
"What do you have for us?" Satori said instead, encouraging the woman to speak as she played with the edge of her mantle a moment before taking a slow breath.
"There have been signs of mana zone expansion," she began carefully, "But more than that, the remains that you left of Frost and Krampus in our care for research after you... b-butchered, them," she paused, clearing her throat before continuing. Satori ignored the tone, and the soft whispers in the crowds.
"Are s-still here. The parts were clarified to not be made of raw mana, and instead are proper living tissue akin to a mana beasts instead." The words caused Satori to glance upward a moment in thought.
"So the Dungeon monsters, somehow, evolved into proper creatures and even were able to resurrect through the magic ritual that re-created Krampus. Things are repeating just like a Dungeon, though." His brow furrowed a moment, lifting a hand to hold his chin. He was missing something. If the bodies were no longer mana, and his theory that Dungeon's were living creatures held, then...
"Perhaps the Dungeon itself, evolved?" he murmured, more to himself than anything causing the woman to blink in confusion. Lips parting to inquire what he meant before the ground suddenly shook. Satori's eyes shot to the side, examining the source of the impact with narrowed eyes.
"Verena, my apologies," he stated bluntly, suddenly scooping the woman up into his arms before flickering forward in a blur. He knew she didn't wish to be touched, but this was important. Flickering through the air before slamming into the snow across the town, a massive candy cane golem had manifested. But not yet made it to the town itself. His eyes narrowed, setting her down gently.
"Couldn't wait for you to get here. This is your charge. Show me what you can do." He stated this simply, straightening and crossing his arms over his chest as he watched the massive candy cane creature towering over them all begin to slowly move in their direction.
"It was slow and barely sentient. More than a normal golem, but only barely." He offered her simply for advice. "Hits hard enough though, and it's tough. Be careful." He'd clean up the mess if she failed, but he didn't think she would.
Post by Verena Reinsberg on Jan 11, 2021 2:08:45 GMT -5
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MANA SKIN senior
HEALTH senior
MANA REGEN 25 IC // 20 OOC
MANA POOL 110/110
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Of all the responses that Verena expected to hear, laughter was not too high on that list. She knew that beauty was in the eyes of the beholder, and she knew that outwardly, she might possess some traits that some may consider attractive. That was precisely why she wore her coat as much as she did, to avoid any possible stares. She didn't think herself the most beautiful woman in the world though; that was far too pretentious. But, on more than one occasion had she drawn attention based on looks.[break][break]
And on more than one occasion, they only assumed that she was beautiful. Her personality was what made her ugly. Even now, she couldn't even allow herself to view Bengal as a friend. She followed his lead not out of any sort of real interest initially, but purely as an extension of the freedom she had. She couldn't ever marry a commoner, or grow any real attachment to them. Even worse, she would... eventually have to forgo the connections she had made prior once she took her position as the Reinsberg family head. Even with Suna...[break][break]
That was why she was truly ugly.[break][break]
Nobility was... truely a lonely thing in this kingdom. Once you saw the freedom and liberties that others were able to obtain as a result of not being pressured into archaic responsibilities or duties that had nothing to do with the modern-day, nobility began to feel like a truly cumbersome and isolated manner. That was her view, at least. She doubted Bengal saw things the same way she did, but the Ryuutei at large were different from the very beginning.[break][break]
Satori took charge, wanting to gather information on the issue at hand. So much was being said at once. She knew that they had talked about this, but the fact there were witnesses actively testifying to it was bizarre. He hadn't just fought off Krampus and 'Frost', whoever the latter was. He had annihilated them. Enough to make even the very people he protected uncomfortable.[break][break]
The gap in power between Bengal and the average citizen was terrifying, in truth, and it really put it into perspective. He was a monster. But, he was only a monster to those who were deemed enemies. It was unfortunate that people, herself included, struggled to see the good one did when it was overshadowed by something that was too gruesome to ignore. Did he hate others for it? If he did, Bengal certainly didn't let it influence his decisions here.[break][break]
Verena listened as Bengal began contemplating what was going on. If what was said was true, then the monsters from the dungeons had found a way to break free from their 'prisons', if one thought of them as such. They had materialized in some way but were repeating as though this was an ordinary dungeon, no matter how often they died. They also had mentioned mana expansion--a phenomenon that Verena had looked into some time ago. It was when mana ran a bit more rampant out of nowhere and spread across a set area. A popular theory indicated that mana expansions were possible for the creation of dungeons, but their exact reasons for occurring were still largely unknown.[break][break]
"...Kikka's reclamation wasn't that long ago, and the two towns aren't too far away from another. It wouldn't surprise me if this irregularity was born from the extended stay of the daemons who occupied the town. Plus... due to Nairn's location of being both close to Kikka, it's also quite close to the Forsaken Region. Perhaps because of these factors, something otherwise impossible became possible..." Verena mused.[break][break]
The two had talked about this briefly. The influence of daemons, at least. And though Verena couldn't quite wrap her head around the details of the loop itself, she at least wanted to help try to make sense of what was going on. If not for Bengal's sake, then hers. Understanding the method in which this worked would be useful for the future, at least.[break][break]
But not longer she spoke did she find herself... in the air? Confused and startled, the woman was about to instinctively wiggle about to get freedom, but she stopped before she actually could. That's right. She was in the air. She'd only get hurt if that happened. If he was going to do that, he could have at least asked her first. Depending on the severity, she would have agreed if there was no way else. She understood that she was exceptionally slow.[break][break]
But, then again he had knowledge of what she interpreted as the future, and the ground beneath their feet had shaken. Something was going on. Eventually, however, they had stopped, and Verena realized the issue. This golem was even larger than anything she could make, but... not by much. Even still, it was capable of causing massive damage if left unchecked. Taking in a deep breath, Verena readied herself.[break][break]
This was going to be one of the most difficult fights yet. The golem went to destroy a building, but Verena wasn't going to let that through. Not easily, at least. "Carbon Creation Magic: Survival Instinct," she declared, raising a wall that the golem's hand collided with. It wasn't powerful enough to tear down her wall, at least, just barely standing. It gave her, a rough idea, of how powerful an adversary she was dealing with. Even still...[break][break]
A bead of sweat fell down her forehead.[break][break]
This wasn't going to be especially easy. Then again, what in life worth pursuing ever was?
Juggernaut: Twice a thread, a player can cause an equally ranked offensive based spell that would normally destroy or injure their defensive spell to be completely negated.
Description: Upon usage, Verena creates a wall that is 2x2x5 (length x width x height) made of pure carbon and as such is akin to a jet black in color. The wall appears as though it's constantly moving around, and this is in part due to [Juggernaut], as it is capable of, with limited usages, of strengthening itself in what would otherwise tear right through, or damage it to render that damage obsolete.[break][break]
In addition, the wall is capable of shooting out a solid "rope" of carbon though reinforced via [Imprisonmont of a God], plus one additional chain for every 30 [CON] she has. These chains function in accordance to clashing rules, and cause strain on a person's ability to regenerate their mana, depleting it by 10 (though if their mana regenerative ability is lower, then it will reduce it by the maximum value without making it 0).[break][break]
If the chains do not manage to catch a person, they are still capable of restraining a person's grimoire via Restraining Magic, and have a 50% reduction on the casting ability of a mage. The construct can withstand up to twice its rank in damage before being completely destroyed.
Post by Satori Ryuutei on Jan 11, 2021 18:22:30 GMT -5
He'd already apologized, so he felt no need to do so again. No, instead he crossed his arms and watched as Verena summoned forth the massive all, his expression relaxed as she did so. The exchange of power made it clear that she would at the very least not need his help staying alive. What would be the trick was if she needed his help to properly end the fight as a whole. Rubbing his chin quietly, Satori watched patiently while she began her summoning.
"Target its legs, Verena," he offered simple advice while the young woman concentrated, clearly she had the ability to do this. But fighting something that large was an annoyance. Bringing its legs down due to the brittle nature of its material should be easily done, and once its mobility was lowered it would lose much of its destructive potential. It'd also make it an even easier target to destroy than normal.
He could assist, but he felt no need. No, Verena needed the combat experience. Besides, that fire in her eyes had told the story clearly. She wanted to deal with this. His lip twitched upward as the armlet whispered to him. Ko thought she was worthwhile to befriend, and he had to agree.
Post by Verena Reinsberg on Jan 13, 2021 5:34:33 GMT -5
[nospaces]
[attr="class","verenaver2image"] [break]
POW
DUR
SEN
STA
CON
007
46
10
032
030
[break]
MANA SKIN senior
HEALTH senior
MANA REGEN 25 IC // 20 OOC
MANA POOL 035/110
[break]
[attr="class","verenaver2scroll"]
The golem seemed perplexed by the wall Verena created. It must have been able to destroy most things in one shot, so the fact that it could still stand must have been a bit of a surprise to the behemoth. This candy cane golem was even taller than even the two-story homes and buildings in the area, even taller than her own wall. This was her first time dealing with an enemy that she could not overwhelm with sheer size. Even the best golem that she might have been capable of producing might not have been able to match with this; she could tell that it could deal a blow that was capable of felling her golems in one hit. That meant she was going to need to get creative, and quick...[break][break]
Suddenly, chains lashed out towards the golem from the wall. Due to their close proximity, the golem had little time to respond to these carbon made chains that bound both arms. It wasn't going to cause the beast any damage, but it would hopefully be a little harder on it to get away. That was what she could hope for, at least. She knew Bengal said to target the legs, but she wanted to make the wall last a bit longer if possible, and so restricting its arms, for the time being, was important. Plus, while bound, it wouldn't be able to get away that easily, anyway.[break][break]
"Summoner Creation Magic: Despair Billy. Summoner Creation Magic: Phaunus' Gift," Verena declared, summoning a total of four of the smaller wood golems, and two of the cloth golem.[break][break]
The idea was to group up on this golem while it's mobility was limited. Going all out in a tight space would be difficult to ensure the well being of buildings and people given the size of golems. Her goal was to minimize damage against a larger opponent but to also fell it. She'd need to act quickly but not hastily. Otherwise, there was no way she could beat an opponent before exhausting herself while trying to ensure she could keep damage to a minimum.[break][break]
Bengal said to target the legs, but Despair Billy wasn't that much shorter than the Candycane golem, if at all. Her two wood golems were half the height, however, which made them opportune to target said limbs via kicks. Meanwhile, her two Billy golems were being used to further restrain the golem by wrestling it in place. It was a simple strategy, but one that Verena used as the baseline.[break][break]
The golems quickly arrived at the scene; their size made their mobility a bit more capable, or at least they were able to with (relative) ease close the gap. The single-minded candy cane golem was confused by the restraints on its arms. That was good. That sentence didn't seem to give it intelligence.[break][break]
As the brunette hoped, her golems managed to take advantage of the candy cane's confusion, one wrapping its arms around the golems' waist, akin to a bear hug. It didn't try hoisting it up off the ground, but instead was just trying to apply as much pressure to it. This type of attack seemed to have enough force, causing a very slight crack to appear. Meanwhile, the wood golems were targeting the legs.[break][break]
There was no reason to believe this would go smoothly, however. Despite the number of attacks between the kicks and the display of crushing force of Billy's embrace, it seemed like the damage was negligible. Verena was about to declare a change in tactics when suddenly the golem did something she couldn't have predicted based on her experiences with golems so far, even if she knew they were capable of it.[break][break]
Though it happened quickly in real-time, Verena immediately ascertained the next step. It wasn't because she was forewarned; but when it came to the citizens of Clover, few were as truly studious to the craft of golems as she was. It wasn't a mana based attack; this was just the result of pure instinct and intuition of what she would do when she took notice of how the candy cane golem was reacting. Its mannerisms shifted, as it forcefully spread it's arms apart, defeating her wood golems in one fell swoop. And then, came the 'rain'.[break][break]
Coming straight from the palms of the monster candy cane was being ejected; six in total, two at a time with a slight pause. Golems weren't capable of using magic, and she could tell based on its general power and the fact that she could cause some damage to it that this golem was not capable of outmatching her. It was stronger, but whoever cast it was not more talented than her.[break][break]
Candycane came at random points, but Verena did her best to protect the homes and buildings, summoning a total of six of her walls, just barely protecting them all. One even came flying towards near where she and Bengal stood. Verena quickly reviewed the situation; she had lost all of her wood golems, her two cloth golems, and one wall. That attempt to restrain it had not worked out as well as it could have, but more importantly, she had surrounded it with her walls, effectively blocking it in as six more chains appeared around the golem.[break][break]
Only one entrance was made, but it was specifically made so that she could have her Billy golems enter single file. Still, using this stunt took over half of her mana, and she had already drained herself quite a bit prior to this. Even with her training to increase her overall mana regenerative abilities, she had nearly pushed herself to the point of exhaustion with this stunt. But what was important was that she both protected people, homes, and herself...[break][break]
Even still, it didn't seem like this was quite enough... Verena brought her thumb to her lip, biting down it. Her golems weren't strong enough to quite deal any lethal damage like this. If this continued, it might stand back up, and... and...[break][break]
Her mind began racing when contemplating the possibilities. She didn't want to leave this to Bengal. She just needed... more time. Even still, she was exhausted. So much mana was used just to defend others. Over half of that, and now she was incredibly low. She wouldn't even be able to properly sustain these spells for a long. This was ... turning out to be incredibly stressful.
[break]
COMBAT SUMMARY
[break]
[attr="class","verenaver2scroll2"] TL;DR -10 int defense construct (destroyed)[break] -10 junior golem (destroyed)[break] -20 int golem (destroyed)[break] -60 int defense construct[break] +25 mana regen[break] 35 mana[break][break]
verena tries grouping up on the candycane golem while it's restrained. it breaks out of said restraints via brute force (60 pow>51 dur), and ends up destroying her all of her golems and wall in the process. then shoots out six candycane spears. verena summons six walls to counter this (casting limit at end of post: 3/4) and uses them to bind the golem. verena exhausts herself, however, so she can't follow up and needs to regen. [break][break]
Juggernaut: Twice a thread, a player can cause an equally ranked offensive based spell that would normally destroy or injure their defensive spell to be completely negated.
Description: Upon usage, Verena creates a wall that is 2x2x5 (length x width x height) made of pure carbon and as such is akin to a jet black in color. The wall appears as though it's constantly moving around, and this is in part due to [Juggernaut], as it is capable of, with limited usages, of strengthening itself in what would otherwise tear right through, or damage it to render that damage obsolete.[break][break]
In addition, the wall is capable of shooting out a solid "rope" of carbon though reinforced via [Imprisonmont of a God], plus one additional chain for every 30 [CON] she has. These chains function in accordance to clashing rules, and cause strain on a person's ability to regenerate their mana, depleting it by 10 (though if their mana regenerative ability is lower, then it will reduce it by the maximum value without making it 0).[break][break]
If the chains do not manage to catch a person, they are still capable of restraining a person's grimoire via Restraining Magic, and have a 50% reduction on the casting ability of a mage. The construct can withstand up to twice its rank in damage before being completely destroyed.
This Perk allows your Golems to start with a bonus of +3 to its Durability, Power, and Sensory Stats. At Grand Rank this bonus increases to +5. If this Perk is applied to a Balanced Golem these bonuses increase to +5 and +10 instead.
This Perk allows your Golems to start with a bonus of +3 to its Durability Stat. At Grand Rank this bonus increases to +5. If this Perk is applied to a Guardian Golem these bonuses increase to +5 and +10 instead.
Description: Summoner Creation: Phaunus' Gift is made utilizing mana with Wood Affinity. The golem itself is incredibly simple in design. It's a humanoid golem made from wooden branches that have been smoothed out, and then banded together with more limber wood to hold it in place, like a wicker basket. The golem is incredibly basic and barebones in it's functionality, only punching and kicking to assail it's enemies. Still, due to it's simplicity, it is incredibly easy to control, and effective for most other tasks she may need them for.[break][break]
Verena is able to create one (1) golem per ten (10) control she has at once, maxing at five.
This Perk allows your Golems to start with a bonus of +3 to its Durability, Power, and Sensory Stats. At Grand Rank this bonus increases to +5. If this Perk is applied to a Balanced Golem these bonuses increase to +5 and +10 instead.
This Perk allows your Golems to start with a bonus of +3 to its Durability Stat. At Grand Rank this bonus increases to +5. If this Perk is applied to a Guardian Golem these bonuses increase to +5 and +10 instead.
Description: Visually, a disturbing golem. One that someone wouldn't have thought possible from someone like Verena. However, Kikka did have an impact on her aesthetic. To counter her own fear of the macabre, she decided that she would instead embrace it, to confront it, and ultimately tame it. And thus, Despair Billy was born. A golem manifested from her own fear.[break][break]
Despair Billy appears as a giant patchwork doll--closer in design to a voodoo doll than anything else. It's body is crafted from various types of cloth of different colors. The bulk of its body is the same color as a burlap sack, whereas its right arm is colored a sickly looking yellow. This same yellow appears on the top right of its head, whereas the left half of its head is a lifeless blue blue. It possesses no neck, and from its right shoulder to the start of its left forearm, as well as its left part of its chest and rib cage is red. A heart can be seen stitched on on the opposite side of its body, albeit crudely attached on to it. It is easily taller by a considerable degree than a human being, standing at six meters in height.[break][break]
Though the golem is capable of transporting up to two people, the speed at which it is capable of doing so is no more than [10 m/s]. "Billy" has enough power to knockback people when swinging with its arms to send them back four meters, plus an additional [5m] for every [10] in [POW] it possesses. Unlike Verena's other golems, Billy is suited primarily for attacking, though it still keeps up with Verena's primary objective of not killing, as the strikes from it are all blunt. It can cause great harm compared to her other golems, but it is still very unlikely to kill a person(s).[break]
Post by Satori Ryuutei on Jan 13, 2021 12:47:29 GMT -5
She needed more firepower. It was something that he had recognized quite easily, but it really did give proof of just how much so. Rubbing the back of his neck, Satori’s eyes lifted up slowly in thought. Using his ki to keep track of the battle, before shifting his gaze back down toward the large Golem. Lifting a hand up, his mana began to rapidly swirl and condense. Snapping into existence and forming into a massive beast of crackling electricity that reared its head back slowly.
The large beast was horned, with a mix of canine and feline characteristics. As if a great tiger had taken bits of a wolf, and added on a pair of massive horns. Tingling of static electricity crackled along its coat as he ran his hand through the flowing plasma-like fur of the creature purely out of habit than it having any actual sapience. Much as one would pat a trusty blade, before he lifted a hand up and pointed toward Verena.
“Protect her in the worst situation,” he stated bluntly, causing the beast to snort once before flickering. Suddenly appearing at Verena’s side, towering over her to the side as the creature’s gaze shifted down toward her. Empty white crackling eyes peering down at her, before focusing on the threat. Preparing to guard her in its worst case. At least this way it wasn’t ‘Satori’ that was protecting her, but a ‘Golem’.
She was doing well, all things considered. But having her acquire a proper offensive golem of a higher tier was definitely going to be a requirement. She needed to learn to augment her golems with her own magic, as well. The whisper of the armlet caused him to grunt softly.
No. This girl is too fragile to see you three. Perhaps later, but for now there is no need.
Name of Spell: Raiju Spell Element: Lightning Spell Rank: Grand Mana Cost: 50 & 25/Post Type of Golem: Balanced Applicable Perks: Armament, Puppet Master, Light Footed Golem, Reinforced Golem Description: Bengal releases electricity outward before it rapidly manifests into a massive semi-solid creature of solid lightning and plasma. The beast is shaped roughly in the form of a large feline, akin to a tiger, but holds a canine-like face. Twin bull-horns extending from the sides of its head, with a thick lion-like mane. The beast stands at [10m] tall at the shoulder and extending [12m] in length.
Verena was exhausted. Still standing, but exhausted. In her need to protect others, and to prove a point to Satori, the brunette had spent well over half of her mana pool in an instant. She was weak. She wasn't strong enough to protect others and herself, let alone her own ideologies. Nothing had changed since Kikka. She was still just as weak now as she was then.[break][break]
Yet... why did she so fiercely desire to protect these people, even if she wasn't suited for it? This went beyond her normal ordinary stubborn nature, a consequence of her upbringing. This stemmed from something deeper. Something more... raw. She was certain of that. But she didn't have time to think this through.[break][break]
Based on what she had seen so far, it was slower than most of her golems, but it could take a lot more of a beating than any of hers could. That said, her own defensive measures were more or less equal in capability to this golems offensive prowess. In other words, a stalemate was not an option. If she was going to make this fight a winnable fight, then it had to start by focusing on quality, her usual motto when it came to golems.
"Summoner Creation Magic: Despair Billy!" the woman called out while she still had the golem restrained.[break][break]
Verena glanced as her carbon walls were beginning to shatter. Yeah, she wasn't going to able to sustain them for long. But she wouldn't let this moment go to waste, either. Verena summoned Billy in the back, before ordering him to charge at the Candycone Golem who was managing to break free from his restraints. The moment Billy was close enough, it was to tackle this golem with all the power it could muster, and knock it to the ground.[break][break]
The summoner planned on taking advantage of the force it was to use to break free from the chains, which would leave it vulnerable for a split second if the legs specifically were to be targetted. This same golem was stronger than it normally would be as well, due to her putting more of a conscious effort in focusing on improving its strength, endurance, and general sensory prowess. The path to victory was in sight. She would be able to do this.[break][break]
When Billy was close enough to the walls, Verena dismissed all of her constructs bar the one in front of the candy cane golem, though the chains on it were no longer attached to it, having been destroyed and dealing damage to the wall at the same time. At this same time, the golem outstretched its arms as it was about to break loose of the restraints. This excessive use of energy with nothing limiting it caused the Candycane golem to stagger as Billy made a dive towards the legs, knocking it right into the wall with a heavy thud.[break][break]
This should have been enough to knock the wall down. It should have been, but it was still standing preventing the golem from toppling over onto the city grounds further. The golem itself was brought to its knees as Verena used this opportunity to allow her golem to deal a heavy strike to the behemoth candy cane-like construct of mana. Still, it wasn't enough... her golems lacked sufficient enough power compared to this beast's endurance.[break][break]
This candy cane giant tried getting back to its feet, but Verena had expected this; it was the sole reason she had kept this wall despite the drain on her mana to do so. Once more, two more chains came spiraling out of the wall as they enveloped the behemoth and continued to bind him. Verena was panting hard. If it wasn't for her training on mana regeneration, she'd be left with next to nothing right now. She was so close... just a little further, and then she could deal with it. She just needed more mana.
[break]
COMBAT SUMMARY
[break]
[attr="class","verenaver2scroll2"] TL;DR -10 mana for sustain def construct[break] -20 for int golem[break] +25 mana regen[break] 30/110[break][break]
verena uses a golem to tackle the candy cane one down, pinning it down with the restraints from the wall after it was almost destroyed but was sustained via juggernaut. verena is currently using her golem to try to deal as much damage to it as possible @junior rank. current hp is intermediate@candycane. to speed things along, bengal can mention that the golem is still wailing on it in his post to have it dispersed in it by then should he desire, and also if that's even allowed.) [break][break]
Juggernaut: Twice a thread, a player can cause an equally ranked offensive based spell that would normally destroy or injure their defensive spell to be completely negated.
Description: Upon usage, Verena creates a wall that is 2x2x5 (length x width x height) made of pure carbon and as such is akin to a jet black in color. The wall appears as though it's constantly moving around, and this is in part due to [Juggernaut], as it is capable of, with limited usages, of strengthening itself in what would otherwise tear right through, or damage it to render that damage obsolete.[break][break]
In addition, the wall is capable of shooting out a solid "rope" of carbon though reinforced via [Imprisonmont of a God], plus one additional chain for every 30 [CON] she has. These chains function in accordance to clashing rules, and cause strain on a person's ability to regenerate their mana, depleting it by 10 (though if their mana regenerative ability is lower, then it will reduce it by the maximum value without making it 0).[break][break]
If the chains do not manage to catch a person, they are still capable of restraining a person's grimoire via Restraining Magic, and have a 50% reduction on the casting ability of a mage. The construct can withstand up to twice its rank in damage before being completely destroyed.
This Perk allows your Golems to start with a bonus of +3 to its Durability, Power, and Sensory Stats. At Grand Rank this bonus increases to +5. If this Perk is applied to a Balanced Golem these bonuses increase to +5 and +10 instead.
This Perk allows your Golems to start with a bonus of +3 to its Durability Stat. At Grand Rank this bonus increases to +5. If this Perk is applied to a Guardian Golem these bonuses increase to +5 and +10 instead.
Description: Visually, a disturbing golem. One that someone wouldn't have thought possible from someone like Verena. However, Kikka did have an impact on her aesthetic. To counter her own fear of the macabre, she decided that she would instead embrace it, to confront it, and ultimately tame it. And thus, Despair Billy was born. A golem manifested from her own fear.[break][break]
Despair Billy appears as a giant patchwork doll--closer in design to a voodoo doll than anything else. It's body is crafted from various types of cloth of different colors. The bulk of its body is the same color as a burlap sack, whereas its right arm is colored a sickly looking yellow. This same yellow appears on the top right of its head, whereas the left half of its head is a lifeless blue blue. It possesses no neck, and from its right shoulder to the start of its left forearm, as well as its left part of its chest and rib cage is red. A heart can be seen stitched on on the opposite side of its body, albeit crudely attached on to it. It is easily taller by a considerable degree than a human being, standing at six meters in height.[break][break]
Though the golem is capable of transporting up to two people, the speed at which it is capable of doing so is no more than [10 m/s]. "Billy" has enough power to knockback people when swinging with its arms to send them back four meters, plus an additional [5m] for every [10] in [POW] it possesses. Unlike Verena's other golems, Billy is suited primarily for attacking, though it still keeps up with Verena's primary objective of not killing, as the strikes from it are all blunt. It can cause great harm compared to her other golems, but it is still very unlikely to kill a person(s).[break]