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.
I don't know where the future[break][break] will take us,[break][break] But we will blaze it together.[break][break]
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[attr="class","ardereescroll"]Commander Ashford stood among the smoke and flame, relentless as his silver mana waivered in the hot wind. Quickly! Finish the barricade! As the doors were locked utilizing various forms of magic, he could hear it; the banging and shaking of the wood. These doors would not hold for long, even reinforced with the plethora of magics as it was. If this is to be the end, then it shall be an end befitting of our people. Clutching his blade tight, tears did not come but the sorrow was deep rooted within his heart. [break][break] Then, there was hope. As the soldier came up to him, he felt strength and courage he thought was long lost in a battle like this. Ashford nodded solemnly. Then go, my boy. You carry the fate of our people on your back. It is a burden. Holding his sword out to the young boy, the Field Commander placed it in his hands. This will help you bear the burden a bit easier. Removing his Commander's patch and placing it in the boy's pack, he took a deep breath. Run with the wind my boy. May the spirits be with you. The boy nodded, grasping the Commander's great sword tightly. And run he did, as fast as his little feet could muster. Ashford did not know if he would make it in time, but he did know there was still hope. So as the banging began to ring in his ears, he did not despair. All emotion was gone from him now. There was only will remaining, an iron strong will to keep fighting. The door splintered and men were scattered as a massive Daemon burst through. This was a Grand level Daemon, too powerful for regular soldiers to engage. It was up to him now. [break][break] Summoning forth an array of silver swords and firing them off into the massive Daemon, black blood splattered across the walls as it screeched in pain. Silver Arsenal! A silver armor began to crawl across his skin as his strength was enhanced, muscles pulsating with power as he leaped at the monster--sword in hand he engaged it. Silver Prominence! The walls shook and the ground shattered beneath them. Exchanging blows, the hall was covered in black blood now. Ashford did not give this beast an inch to move. Even as his armor was shattered and his swords were broken, he stood tall. His red blood now began to run down his body. Ashford fought for hours, or what seemed like it. He had lost all sense of time now. Did any men remain to fight with him? He did not know. His entire squadron may have been beside him but now all the Commander saw were enemies before him. [break][break] The boy made his way to the base and got word to Atlantis, but Commander Ashford would not live to see the reinforcements. Summoning forth his final spell, a grandiose sword of magnificent sparkling silver was ripped out of his grimoire. This was the most beautiful blade he had ever held and now it was his final goodbye. His only hope was to take as many of the Daemon out as he could. Daemon Killer. The blade was aptly named. As he swung it, an entire force of Daemon was cleaved in two. Leaping out the door into the courtyard, he slaughtered dozens if not hundreds of Daemon--but it was not enough. He was riddled with wounds now. His entire body was torn to shreds, and with one final move he broke apart the entire courtyard, causing it to collapse. This would buy his men some time, but that was all he could hope as he faded into the world to be with his ancestors. And now, the tears rolled down his face. His last thoughts were of home, of his people and of a field he used to walk as a child. A field full of flowers and friends. If only he could walk that field forever....into the eternal light...
Silver Arsenal = Siegfried's Arsenal, Silver Prominence = Tyr, Daemon Killer = God Killer[break][break] Name of Spell: Siegfried's Arsenal[break] Elemental Type: Fire[break] Rank & Spell Type: Grand | Attack Creation[break] Range & Speed: 80 m area| 75 m/s[break] Mana Cost: 40 (20)[break] Stats Effected: +22 Power[break] Applicable Perks: Mana Conservationist, Battle Knight, Signature Spell.[break] Description: This is Ardere's most often used spell, and one he learned from his father (It being a mirror of his father's signature spell). It has gotten stronger as he has, and this is the final version of this spell. He creates a massive sword out of flame. Being 2 meters in length it is long enough to match his own height but not too large to be awkward when wielding. The user can grab this sword, but they can also manipulate it in an 80 meter area, being 40 m radially around them-self. They can manipulate it to stab or slash or twirl, anything the user can think of. For every 50 control the user has, they can make an extra sword. These swords are powerful enough to cleave through stone and metal like it was butter, and limbs are just the same. These spells do have the ability to kill. [break][break] Name of Spell: Crimson King: Tyr[break] Elemental Type: Fire[break] Rank & Spell Type: Grand | Attack Creation/Physical Reinforcement[break] Range & Speed: Self | N/A[break] Mana Cost: 40 (20)[break] Stats Effected: +Grand Strength[break] Applicable Perks: Mana Conservationist, Concussive Blows, Battle Knight, Brute, Herculean Strength. Description: Ardere has used this spells for years, and is considered one of his most used spells. Based on the Ifrit spell Lysander used and the Abyss Armor Elizabeth utilized, this spell has been honed and practiced. The mage creates an armor of flame across his entire body, lighting his hair on fire in the process. This also causes his muscles to expand and strengthen as the PR aspect of it reinforces his strength. This allows him to punch holes in buildings, or even level them. The power of the flame and reinforcement are used in tandem to make this a monstrously terrifying offensive spell. [break][break] Name of Spell: King's Flame: God Killer[break] Elemental Type: Fire[break] Rank & Spell Type: Archmage - Attack Creation[break] Range & Speed: 300 m | 125 m/s[break] Mana Cost: 64 (32)[break] Stats Effected: +16 Power[break] Applicable Perks: Battle Knight, Mana Conservationist[break] Description: Ardere creates a katana in his hands out of pure flames. Generally the katana is of the standard length of a meter, but the user can extend that katana to a length of 300 meters at a speed of 125 m/s. This can be used for near instant piercing attacks, or even to just cut gargantuan and titanic sized enemies into pieces. The flames from this blade are so intense that their color has changed to white. A direct hit from this sword without the protection of mana skin will instantly kill you. If you manage to survive, any limbs it cuts off just turn to ash. This sword has the ability to turn a building into a pile of rubble and ash in a matter of seconds.
Post by Charles Constantine✾ on Sept 28, 2021 18:37:10 GMT -5
[NOSPACES]
"I'm no g e n i u s, I'm just a fool who keeps going forward."
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[attr="class","glentext"] There was something off, something different and he could feel it with his Ki. The chess pieces weren't ordinary chess pieces he usually played with. They felt as if they were alive, as if someone was inside them, perhaps. Charles took each individual piece, placing each one of them into the chessboard. The King had the energy of a strong and fiery leader, he knew someone that met that fulfilled that exact description. Ardere Kasai, the Captain of his team, his aura was easy to recognize. At this moment the silver mage had realized, that the King he was touching was very much alive and it had Captain Ardere inside of it. The Knights were next, warm energy, it seemed too hot for him to handle. If he wasn't careful he could accidentally get burned by a chess piece as stupid as it sounded. Next were the pawns, they seemed to have different types of energies and personalities. Some were afraid, some were ready for a fight. The Bishops gave off the energy of maelstrom, their energy was something that took him to the edge. It was hard for him to describe, but he knew that he had to remain composed at all times. The Rooks, one was level-headed and the other one seemed tired and scared, but at the same time was confident and bold ready for anything. The silver mage could feel something special about those rooks, they were familiar and the closest to him. There was no doubt... It was him... He was also on the board and there was the meaning behind those two rooks, those two rooks were him. They were one of the same, yet different at the same time. [break][break] The last piece was the Queen, she was scared, yet full of hate. The amount of hate he felt gave him chills, it was hard for him to believe that something like a chess piece had so much hatred. After he was done inspecting the pieces, he placed them one by one on the board. "I figured... You wouldn't casually just invite me to a chess game. They're all here." He said, he knew he didn't have to explain. The silver mage knew that the Avatar knew what exactly he was referring to, his implications said everything. He wasn't fond of the idea of having people he knows to be used as pieces of chess, as they were people, but it was probably a visual representation as to how daemons saw each other, like chess pieces. Similar to Sven, it was all some sort of game, or maybe in Aamon's case a test of sorts. All of this was planned from the start, that's why they were not going to play an ordinary chess game. [break][break] Charles raised an eyebrow the moment he saw Argenti reluctantly came forth to Aamon's Avatar. He had just ordered his spirit, which was something he never expected to see, but with the daemons, it was only normal to expect the unexpected. "That explains it.." Elves possessed a superior magical ability compared to humans, it was no wonder why a spirit would heed the command of a spirit a being that had a higher magical ability. The son of Aamon used to be a silver mage, just like him. The Avatar claimed that the two were cut from the same cloth, similar. It seemed as if the Avatar was implying that he was once a silver mage, just like him before he turned into a daemon. "So that's why she listened to you, huh. Seems like the business runs in the family." Silver mages were quite rare, he was one of the few among the Kingdom, the element wasn't as common as fire. Judging by the way he spoke, that meant Aamon's son and the Avatar were one of the same. Although, it could be argued that he was no longer Aamon's son, his Avatar and right-hand man. He made his move, moving the pawn on the right-center two steps forward, making his move. [break][break] He briefly turned to look at the female elf, the Deceiver. Charles noted that she was afraid and that she probably knew something, yet because of that same fear, she found herself unable to say or do anything about it. The silver mage had figured the identity of the Queen, it was the female elf. It was hard to see what were the full implications of this game, but he had a feeling that the fate of his own teammates and the Deceiver were now in his hands. Each move was important, and a mistake could be costly. The Deceiver was his Queen, the most important piece after the King. After all, if something happened to Ardere they wouldn't be able to defeat Aamon. However, this also meant that the female elf held some sort of significance and importance in this. "I'm counting you..." The silver mage declared, as he briefly turned to look at the Queen chess piece. It was as if he was implying something. He made the sight obvious to allow her to see. [break][break] "Since you know my name... What should I call you? Aamon's Avatar is too long. What's the meaning or reason behind this game? If you feel like saying it that is." He asked, interested in knowing the Avatar's name if he had any and the meaning behind this game. If the Avatar bothered to say anything in the first place. Charles wasn't sure if he would reveal anything, but it was worth giving it a try. There was always a meaning and reason behind something a daemon did, every word had some implication and an action a purpose. Something was going to happen, if he won or lost, he wanted to know what would happen. Although, he already has an idea of what would happen if he loses. He needed time and information to make an effective strategy. There was no chance he could beat him in one-on-one magical combat but in a chess match? He had a higher chance of winning. [break][break] His Ki was focused on his opponent and the Deceiver. If he could get some information based on his feelings, it would be useful. If he could get a better understanding of his opponents and his emotions, assuming as a daemon he had emotions. Then it would be useful. This was going to be the toughest battle of his life so far, but also a different one from the rest. [break]
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POW 090
DUR 141
SEN 010
STA 080
CON 080
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MANA SKIN
HEALTH
MANA REGEN
MANA POOL
archmage
grand
55 IC // 60 OOC
220/220
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Combat Summary
[break]TL;DR Magic Knight Mantle, Seer's Fate, Forgotten Heirloom [break][break] Charles moved the pawn center-right two steps forward, said some stuff, and asked some questions. Ki Tier 2 is active.
Charles was an interesting little human, this much the Avatar of Aamon knew as he inspected each piece carefully before placing them on the board. Even answering him before looking back to the female elf beside him then back at the game board. When the spirit came to the Avatar, Charles seemed like something clicked in his head and he began to speak once more, asking for his name because saying Avatar of Aamon was too long and the elf had to smile...he had a name, this was all apart of the game. ”For now Charles, refer to me as “A” or Alpha if you prefer...if you can beat me at my own game then perhaps I can give you a name that I once went by, and the meaning of this game? I am having fun while your friends are on their way up the tower. I was going to pick someone to keep me company anyway...I have done the job that I was told to do. Feel free to attack me if you wish, I would be more than happy to show you what real power is. Now I believe it is your move, you can of course choose not to move and I would be happy to oblige myself in a solo game.” He said this and the pawn once again moved up a square, the penalty for not starting when given a chance. The encroaching force was enough to bring a new pressure to the room, there were going to be consequences if Charles did not play the game...Something was off though. When the pawn moved by itself it seemed to give off a fiery aura. Yet the King chess piece seemed to be developing a ebb of power as if it was slowly powering off. ”Ah it looks like your king is in trouble...perhaps his trial is not going as planned.” Alpha said before having a laugh.
Ardere:
Ashford woke up, a frightful dream caused him to fall out of bed. He was back in his bed at the fort. The sun was shining and there were even people talking and laughing just outside of the barrack doors. No screams...no explosions...nothing was wrong and it looked like it would stay that way as there was even a knock at his door.
If he answers, standing on the other side of the door was a woman he knew intimately...his partner...his wife. She had made the travel all the way from Atlantis to see her husband as she gave a salute with a stern look on her face. ”Commander Ashford, sorry to have woken you so suddenly...Lieutenant Varisse here to present my report upon arrival at Ehtë Fort. All Atlanteans have checked in and are beginning preparations for morning drills SIR!” She reported with such a straight face, however her body language was...longing, a twinkle in her eye was the same one that Ashford remembered the day they were wed. Even still though, it was hard to shake the nightmare that Ashford just had as he looked at the love of his wife. If this nightmare was a premonition he would want her as far away as he could get her...yet if they stayed...even with her endangerment...she could offer help. What was one to do in this situation, and why did this trial have to be so difficult.
In the back of Asford’s head though a tinge of Ardere was starting to make itself known...as if there was now a crack in this...memory.
As the leader of their army's infantry forces, the scent of blood filling the air was one that the elven prince was more than familiar with. In the best of situations, it hopefully meant that his allies had scored a sizable victory against their adversary. But other times, it meant something far less positive...
And from the feeling of dread welling up inside the Commander, he almost knew before he arrived at the scene of the slaughter just how bad it would be.
Every single person who had been stationed with the communications mages had been slain. The carnage was unlike anything he had seen in his short but busy career on the battlefield; men and women, young and old, none were spared. His ki senses could detect nothing... nothing, that is, except for the lone figure standing in the room, an island of dread amidst the sea of bodies.
At the sight of the perpetrator of this massacre, Ashford's silver aura flared to life. The sudden surge of power caught the beast's attention, causing it to turn and face him. It was far less inhuman than the countless daemons he had slain in this campaign, but that arguably only served to make it even more monstrous by comparison. It stalked towards him slowly, no doubt eager to add his body to its collection.
Ashford drew his sword, and after a moment of consideration, threw the scabbard away. He would need every advantage he could get in this fight. "Argent Crania!" He called out, summoning a trio of golems; each one resembled a giant silver skull, chattering away as they stared down the beast who had slaughtered their master's people. At once they attacked, swarming around each other at a rapid pace in an attempt to both confuse the daemon and mask the movement of the Commander as he charged alongside them. The daemon seemed almost amused by this display, letting out a wicked chuckle as it drew one arm back before slicing through the first of the golems, leaving it open for the second to slam into it from the side.
Using the momentary opening provided by his golem's sacrifice, Ashford used the third of his soldiers as a stepping stone to jump above the daemon, holding his sword high above him as his grimoire glowed with the power of another spell. "Shining Shackles!" He called out, two pairs of large silver manacles shooting from the pages towards their target. Each one locked around a limb, securing the beast in place as the Commander swung his sword down, aiming right for the twisted humanoid's neck. His attack connected... but something was wrong.
It did not fall. In fact, the wound began to heal before his sword could even be retrieved, sealing the blade inside its neck without any show of discomfort. For a moment he tried to get his sword back, but a glance at the daemon as it leaned its head back told him that was a bad idea. He was too slow to avoid the incoming attack, the daemon lunching its fanged mouth at his nearest arm and biting into it. A howl of agony left the mouth of the elven prince, releasing his sword and trying to use his free hand to pry the maw off of his arm.
Rather than allow that to happen, a brutal jerk of the daemon's head sent him flying into a nearby wall, his forearm ripped to shreds from the attack as the breath left his body from the impact. A sickening chuckle bubbled from the creature's throat as it stepped towards the infantry leader, who shakily got up to his knees before finding he had no more strength. Were the daemon's teeth themselves cursed? As it approached, he figured that he would feel fear or defiance. But instead, Ashford's memories went back to the familiar fields of his homeland. The friends back home, waiting for him to return.
The woman he married, whose face he had looked at in that picture beside his bed just before setting out for the day.
"I'm sorry, my dear... I only hope... that I will not see your face again... for some time." He managed, mustering the last of his strength. With any luck, she would be safe. She couldn't join him where he was going. Not so soon... hopefully.
Name of Spell: Hydra Hitching Elemental Type: Sap Rank & Spell Type: Grand | Restraining Range & Speed: 150m | 75m/s Mana Cost: 50 | 25 Stats Effected: -9 Control, -10 Speed, -20 Mana Regen Applicable Perks: Lockdown Description: On casting this spell, several sap tendrils will form around the user. At the user’s command these tendrils will launch towards their chosen target, splitting into two snake-like heads (reaching a possible combined area of 75 cubic meters) as they travel. Once close enough they will lunge at their target, wrapping around them and biting down. This does no damage, but will form a heavy binding of sap around the victim that reduces their Control stat by 9 points, their speed by 10m/s, and their mana regeneration by 20. Those bound by this spell will also have their casting limits per post cut in half. As per the usual ammo rules, multiple of the tendrils can be sent after one target or towards different targets if the user has a sufficiently high Control stat.
Name of Spell: Cider Spell Element: Sap Spell Rank: Senior Mana Cost: 30 | 15 Type of Golem: Predator Applicable Perks: Puppet Master, Armament, Reinforced Golems Description:
Inspired by the curious pumpkin creatures he encountered whilst assisting in the defense of Kikka, Cyrus concocted a creature that seems as though it were ripped straight out of a Halloween story. Superficially the Cider golem almost resembles a sort of living flame, though still made of sap and amber. The eyes and mouth of this particular beast seem to emit an eerie orange glow as a sign of the powerful mana used to condense their shape. While not overly imposing compared to many other golems, the Cider is not to be underestimated. It is capable of reaching a size of up to 6 meters tall, and can be summoned smaller for tighter spaces. They can travel through the air at a pace of 27 meters per second, or 20 meters per second when carrying passengers. To attack, these living comets fly directly into their opponent and their fortifications, smashing into them with their surprisingly durable and powerful bodies for Senior ranked blunt damage. Their amber maws are not just for show either, and can be used to bite down on foes should the need arise. These golems form the backbone of Cyrus' offensive arsenal and are capable of carrying up to three passengers. Up to 3 can be summoned at once.
Grabbing one of the soldiers he trusted to be straight with him, Ashford knew that they needed to keep the place safe from any infiltrators and other possible incursions. That, and they needed to have a way out in case things really took an even worse turn. As such, the only way he saw this going well was by barricading all of the entrances and keeping a single way in free for any soldiers to their jobs and keep any would-be bombers from getting too close without being stopped. With the explosions rattling the fort and the demons making their way in, Ashford was shocked to see how one of the commanders had arrived here with a wounded soldier. Which was not something they could allow at this time, for emotion to overtake them and keep them from doing their jobs. As it were, they needed every commander at their station and doing their job, especially with people dying left and right.
“Barricade the doors, use whatever tables, chairs and closets you need. Make sure there is only a single point of entry, and keep a potential way out around the back for any worst-case scenario exits. If it comes down to it, I’d rather we not all die in this place.”
As the tense and hectic vibe surrounding the fort was only getting worse, Ashford began realizing that waiting for reinforcements was not something they could risk, a feeling that got especially powerful when a man was being brought in from the front with wounds that seemed fatal on first glance. Further assessment through magical means showed him that there was something spreading throughout this man’s body like a magical disease. And if he had any notion to believe that this man could have been saved earlier in spite of his wounds, he would have now been officially dissuaded. As the nearly lifeless body was being taken from the commander, Ashford momentarily turned towards his own people before he would turn his gaze back to the man that already seemed stricken with grief. He could not stay here, not with the war being on their very doorstep. He had to get his ass back into gear and do his damned job.
“Take him to the infirmary, we’ll take care of him there. As for you, you cannot stay here. We have hundreds of soldiers that rely on you to give them orders and boost your morale. I’ll remind you that we’re fighting a war here that will affect more than just your son, but also your family back home. Go on, return to your duties and keep those demons from advancing any further.”
Though initially struggling against the notion, the commander knew that Ashford was right. Momentarily saluting one another, the man returned to the outer walls while barking orders along the way. Glad that that portion of the hierarchical structure was put back into place, he could go about doing something he would have rather not do. But if what was happening was in any way as he assumed, they would soon be encountering a lot more of these cases. As the man was taken to the infirmary, Ashford closed the curtains surrounding his bed while ordering some of his men to keep any from entering the place, preferring nobody see what he needed to do here. Doing an in-depth assessment of the man’s wounds, the fact that he was still alive was beyond reason and logic, though it might have been due to whatever magic was spreading inside of him moving throughout his organs.
Keeping one of the soldier’s eyes open long enough to see changes happening there, Ashford took out his sword and did the only thing he could do. Calling to his soldiers just outside of the room to come in and hold the body down in case it might attempt to lash out, he took the blade and brought it down to cut the head off of the body. Before whatever was going on with him could come to full fruition and lash out, whether in the form of another magical bomb or maybe becoming a demon himself as he had feared, he believed that this would put a stop to that. Looking around the room at the soldiers who had sensed something was going on with the man, but could not place it themselves, this action was not what they had directly expected. But where he had imagined there to be a disbelief or questioning looks, it appeared as though the men understood what had to be done.
“If you would be so kind, please wrap this man up in the sheets and see to it that he can get a proper burial once his father returns. If he has any questions, please refer him to me. Now, I need all non-essential members to come with me and head to the front gate. If we lose that, we lose the fortress, meaning all of the injured will die anyway. Now move.”
Trying to remain calm while keeping an air of authority, Ashford could not hide the feeling that he was actually very much not calm. He was rattled to his core, though he knew that if all went well, the demons would only be making their way in from a single point as opposed to several, which allowed them to handle their numbers to some degree. For if they had to squeeze themselves through one opening, their numbers only mattered so much, as them funneling their advancing numbers meant they could be taken out more quickly. Leaving several soldiers directly behind the main gate as he himself made his way up the wall above, he prepared a highly destructive spell that could easily blow apart an entire cohort of demons in an instant. As silver began to float around him in preparation, Ashford and his soldiers stood at the ready to take on the influx of demons the moment they showed their faces.
Once they appeared in large numbers, Ashford waited for them to reach the point where they would begin to funnel between the barricades and structures left on the front as they made their way towards the front gate. And as soon as they reached that point, spells started getting flung towards them. Balls of fire, crashing lightning, cutting gusts of winds, tearing limbs and setting them alight left and right, yet seemingly not stopping these monsters as they trampled their own injured forces just to get a shot at ripping someone else apart. They were not at all like the elves, worrying about their own injured, nor did they seem to care about their own lives or the lives of their own kin. In fact, as he watched them go about their dealings, it appeared more and more like they were being controlled by a singular thought that drove them on. But none of that mattered now, as it would not help any of them.
Releasing his spell in the middle of the approaching horde, the silver mass erupted, blowing them apart and severing limbs as it tore through them. This however did not do much to stop them either, other than greatly increasing the kill count. While he would not show it on his face, Ashford knew that this was a fight that had been lost the moment it began, he just did not know how to tell his soldiers as much. Due to the rapid influx of the fiends, the front gate was getting battered hard as more elven soldiers began to form up at behind it, ready to stop them from progressing any further. And as soon as the front gate went down, demons and elves alike clashed with sword, teeth and claw. Cutting down a fair number, it was as if trying to hold back an ocean with a wall made out of sand. It would hold, but only for so long as their defenses were being whittled away wave after wave.
Telling one of the mages by his side to make his way to the infirmary and evacuate any that might be able to walk and take them through the exit that had been prepared for exactly this moment, Ashford knew exactly what he needed to do. Channeling as much mana into a spell that could erupt fiercely and destroy just about anything it touched, he knew that he could buy the people inside of the fort more time, though he could not use it inside of the fort itself. Due to the destructive force behind the spell, the walls themselves would cave in and allow the demons to sweep in in even larger numbers. No, he had to do this as far away from the walls as he could. So as he began to levitate above the ground, he looked for the best possible spot in which to utilize his spell and take as many of the demonic horde with him as he did. Knowing that once he used it, the crater would make them split their numbers even more, his gambit might even allow them to win.
He most likely just wouldn’t get to see the outcome himself.
Dashing off into the army, he flew through the air faster than the demons could knock him down, mana building up more and more up until the point when he reached his final destination. There, with a loud roar, he erupted the magic he was holding inside of himself, utterly destroying the demons it touched as the eruption spread further and further outward. Once it had reached up to forty meters, it left a deep crater in the floor that the demons now needed to move around, which they did surprisingly swiftly, only pushing about ten of them down into their deaths. As he still hovered there, it seemed as though this move had only helped so much, though it had likely helped enough. As he attempted to fly back to the fort and help in the defenses, one of the demons leapt onto his back, causing the both of them to rapidly fall to the ground at the bottom of the crater.
Wasting no time in using his sword to relieve the beast of his head the moment the crash broke the two apart, more of the demons were swarming down to the bottom of the crater that was about twenty meters down to the very bottom. Giving Ashford just enough time to ponder on how his own life had just been forfeited, unable to see the fortress, he hoped that this last act of sacrifice would allow some to escape and tell the tale of what had happened here today. In the best case situation, he hoped that it would allow his soldiers to hold out until the reinforcements arrived. Using the added speed and the ability to fly as a result of the spell he kept active, Ashford bounded back and forth, cutting down demon after demon while constantly keeping count of the amount he killed. Even as the first claws tore through his armor, even as the first teeth bit a chunk out of his leg, he kept counting as he lashed out.
Even if his legs were to be torn off, it would not matter, as his movement would only be impeded so much. With his spell rapidly healing him as soon as he took any damage, it allowed him to keep going on for far longer than the average warrior, which was almost like being inside of a living hell. With every bite or laceration he felt, he knew his body would have stopped the bleeding soon after, only to feel the exact same pain again when another claw or set of teeth sunk in. And so, he kept going, killing left and right up until the moment where the swarming numbers pushed him down to the ground, keeping him from swinging his sword as his arm was eventually torn to pieces. When the end came, his only thoughts were for his men back in the fort which he could not see in the darkness, seeing only tearing claws and gnashing teeth. He thought about his father, his mother, of his family. But when the end dawned upon him, all he truly saw was darkness around him, followed by nothing.
No more strain due to his spells, no urge to keep lashing out, but most importantly, no more pain.
Name of Spell: Galactic Nucleus: Supergiant Elemental Type: Rank & Spell Type: Grand | Attack Creation Range & Speed: 170 meters (80 m AoE) | 85 m/s Mana Cost: 50 mp | 25 mp sustain Stats Effected: +12 Power, Blind Applicable Perks: Overpowered, Quick Shot, Skilled Sniper & Battle Knight (& Area of Triumph) Description: Initialized by either holding up a finger in the air or pointing a weapon straight up into the air to use the tip as a vocal point, this spell forms a small orb of heavily compressed solar mana, which expands into a massive sphere of roughly 75 cubic meters. Moving quickly, the sheer size of this spell make the "single target" aspect rather pointless as it will incinerate the target and anything standing next to it on impact. Either when hitting a solid object, an equally powerful spell or the designated target, it will violently erupt (explosion AoE range can not venture outside the maximum range of 150 meters). The sheer luminosity of this spell is enough to make any who look at it blind for one whole post, as the impact of the spell warps the area beyond repair, destoying the vast majority of buildings hit and causes all those hit by it to be knocked back for 16 meters + 5 meters for every 10 power the user has. By using the "Ammo" rules, Griswold can determine who will and who will not be harmed by the spell.
Name of Spell: Celestial Body: Alpha Cygni Elemental Type: Solar Rank & Spell Type: Senior | Physical Reinforcement & Healing Range & Speed: Self | 50 m/s Mana Cost: 30 mp | 15 mp sustain Stats Effected: +20 m/s Applicable Perks: Full Blitz & Quick Shot Description: By making himself glow while focusing his solar mana tightly around and inside himself and keeping it there, rather than allowing it to be released in an explosive manner, the caster can push off of air and water molecules, thus allowing them to essentially run through the air and on water for the duration of the spell. More than that, by channeling their mana in this manner, they also increase the speed at which they move by +10 m/s and enable themselves to use fractions of it to restore their own body or restore their mana skin. Can heal Senior damage, regrow digits in two posts, and regrow limbs and minor/smaller non-vital organs in four posts. For every turn that it is active, it will also aim to remove any debuffs if present following the "cleaning" rules. During the day, the aura around the caster takes on an orange hue, taking on a silver blue hue after dark.
Name of Spell: Galactic Nucleus: Quasar Elemental Type: Solar Rank & Spell Type: Senior | Attack Creation Range & Speed: 40 meters (AoE) | 40 m/s Mana Cost: 30 mp | 15 mp sustain Stats Effected: +6 to Power Applicable Perks: “Overpowered” Description: A more powerful version of the solar(lunar)burst spell, Galactic Nucleus: Quasar is a burst spell that uses the caster as the epicenter by making their entire body radiate with light before the mana explodes in all directions, moving outward in a 40 meter radius. Initiating in exactly the same manner as Blazar, it allows for a surprise element towards those that are familiar with his spells. Crossing a distance in the blink of an eye, it deals a senior amount of solar damage while knocking those hit by it back for 8 meters + an additional 5 meters for every 10 power the user possesses. Using this spell scorches the earth and leaves somewhat of a crater of roughly five meters deep as the spell itself can destroy most non-magical constructs with ease, cause minor third degree burns and break bones, making a direct hit quite lethal. Using the “ammo” rules, the caster is capable of preventing allies of being hit by the burst. During the day, the spell takes on an orange hue, taking on a silver blue hue after dark.
Post by Charles Constantine✾ on Oct 4, 2021 18:02:43 GMT -5
[NOSPACES]
"I'm no g e n i u s, I'm just a fool who keeps going forward."
[break]
@tagme
word count 948
total word count 6781
[attr="class","glentext"] Charles had no choice, but to play along with his little twisted game that he was still figured out. Whether because he had goals of his own or because of his own amusement while he waited for the rest of the Royal Knights to finish their trial. Whatever that trial it was supposed to be, he could not tell, but the Avatar probably knew something. "Alpha works..." A part of him had a feeling he wasn't going to tell him his real name. The silver mage knew that daemons were once humans or in the case of the Avatar an elf. They had previous identities, they were once someone else, of course, they wouldn't say who they once were. That would remove the point of most things. [break][break] The last piece was the Queen, she was scared, yet full of hate. The amount of hate he felt gave him chills, it was hard for him to believe that something like a chess piece had so much hatred. After he was done inspecting the pieces, he placed them one by one on the board. "I figured... You wouldn't casually just invite me to a chess game. They're all here." He said, he knew he didn't have to explain. The silver mage knew that the Avatar knew what exactly he was referring to, his implications said everything. He wasn't fond of the idea of having people he knows to be used as pieces of chess, as they were people, but it was probably a visual representation as to how daemons saw each other, like chess pieces. Similar to Sven, it was all some sort of game, or maybe in Aamon's case a test of sorts. All of this was planned from the start, that's why they were not going to play an ordinary chess game. [break][break] "Like the woman you call the Deceiver?" He said, wondering if the Avatar was talking about her. Obviously, he didn't care whether or not he was planning to play chess with her, but rather to see what he would say about her. The female elf seemed to be terrified of him for a reason, yet he was not able to tell why. Sure, it could be because of the Avatar's power, but she seemed to know him too. There seemed to be a connection, one that he couldn't get a full grasp on yet. "Eh... I'll pass. I've never been the type of guy who likes fighting anyway." The silver mage denied the offer to attack the Avatar. Fully aware that he was much stronger than him and the winner of the fight was already decided well before it started. If he had to be honest, he preferred to play chess over having to fight Aamon's right hand. He had a higher chance of winning like this, anyway. This also meant he could reserve his strength for the later 'trials' that would come, assuming more trials were ahead of them and this was just the first one. [break][break] After the Avatar had made his move with the pawn, Charles moved the Knight that was on his left, three tiles forward then towards the right, going past the pawn that was in front of it. He decided to go for the Knight this time around due to their subtle movements and ability to move past the enemy without any issues. After he made his move, he noted something different about his King and the daemon clearly knew what was going on and even he laugh as the King seemed to be in trouble. This meant was something going on with Ardere, but he had no clue what was going on inside his trial. Under normal circumstances, Charles would worry, but it was Captain Ardere. Chances are that whatever was going wouldn't prove to be a major issue to him, out everyone in the entire team, he was arguably the hardest person to take down. Regardless if something wasn't going as planned or he was in trouble, there was nothing he could do about it. Unlike Alpha who was enjoying himself with a laugh, the silver mage was left completely unfazed. [break][break] "Since you know my name... What should I call you? Aamon's Avatar is too long. What's the meaning or reason behind this game? If you feel like saying it that is." He asked, interested in knowing the Avatar's name if he had any and the meaning behind this game. If the Avatar bothered to say anything in the first place. Charles wasn't sure if he would reveal anything, but it was worth giving it a try. There was always a meaning and reason behind something a daemon did, every word had some implication and an action a purpose. Something was going to happen, if he won or lost, he wanted to know what would happen. Although, he already has an idea of what would happen if he loses. He needed time and information to make an effective strategy. There was no chance he could beat him in one-on-one magical combat but in a chess match? He had a higher chance of winning. [break][break] He continued monitoring the area with his Ki, his attention was focused on his opponent and the chess pieces. If each was very well alive, then he could figure out something subtle. Even if it didn't work right now, it didn't hurt to keep an eye out of things with his Ki. After all, it allowed him to perceive things he couldn't normally see with his eyes. As of now, he thought of something to try, but he didn't feel like using it yet. Charles was going to wait and see how this game plays out. [break]
[break]
POW 090
DUR 141
SEN 010
STA 080
CON 080
[break]
MANA SKIN
HEALTH
MANA REGEN
MANA POOL
archmage
grand
55 IC // 60 OOC
220/220
[break][break]
Combat Summary
[break]TL;DR Magic Knight Mantle, Seer's Fate, Forgotten Heirloom [break][break] Charles moved the left Knight 3 tiles forward then right. Ki Tier 2 active.
I don't know where the future[break][break] will take us,[break][break] But we will blaze it together.[break][break]
wc: ###
twc: ###
@tagme
[break]
[attr="class","ardereescroll"]Leaping out of bed in a cold sweat, Ashford lost his breath. Gasping for air for a moment, the serene eventually took over and calm resided in his mind. It was just a dream, right? There was nothing to worry about--he was back in his bed. What a strange dream. Letting a sigh escape his maw, he went to put on his uniform. A knock. Come in. Before he managed to don the sparkling silver armor he wore, his beloved entered the room. A smile crept across his pale lips as true calm washed over him like a river across soft stone. [break][break] At ease, Lieutenant. The two shared a stern look at his officer relaxed, then they shared a smile. It is good to see you, my love. Darkness snuck into his mind like a devilish assassin lurking in the shadows. This nightmare he had was something he could not shake, no matter how much he tried to give in to the calming presence of his love. Flashes of death and fire engulfed his thoughts like a wildfire--there was no running from it. Are you alright, my love? You seem a bit..out of it today. I knew you'd miss me but don't lose yourself over it. Chuckling, Ashford attempted to maintain composure the best he could. It is nothing. Let's go do our morning drills. The two shared some time together and the Commander donned his battle armor. They went downstairs and conducted several drills with the Atlanteans, but something was off. Ashford could not stay focused. Flashes of Daemon he did not recognize and Humans filled his mind. It was different than the dream he had, no this was something else entirely. He felt a fire in his heart, like a stranger inside his own soul. [break][break] Varisse had begun to notice it. She was an intuitive woman normally, but this was her husband. Sensing when something was off with him was no difficult task, however this was unlike him. He stared into space, rubbing his temples often. Giving his wife a reassuring smile, he tried this best. War was coming--Ashford could feel it. Whatever this was functioned like a premonition. And if this was to come to pass, his beloved was in more trouble than she knew. They had known for some time the Daemon were encroaching on their territory, but what was coming was almost unbeatable. The worst was a vision--no, a memory of a Tower. This was the most prominent one now. Ascending the Tower beside three other men, he fought through against Daemon. But this memory was not his own, so whose was it? [break][break] I think you should report back to Atlantis. He said to his wife as they stood and watched the morning drills. What, why? I just arrived here. Biting the inside of his cheek, he could not just tell her he was having these visions. The Daemon are encroaching here every day. We could be attacked at any minute. Narrowing her eyebrows, she did not like this. Her heart sank into her chest. I'm a soldier. I can take care of myself. I'm staying here even if there is an attack. This is my duty, as it is yours. Digging his feet into the ground, the flashes of destruction and war were getting more intense, but also the memories of loss. This time it was a different Tower, a different Daemon. Please. This is an order. She turned to face him. I'm speaking to you as not just an Officer, but as your wife. I am staying. He could not contain it anymore. A tear trailing down his face, he shouted. No! I can't lose you like I lost Silas! There was a silence. Who is Silas? Ashford stood there a moment. Who was Silas? What was he talking about? It was like his mind was tearing into pieces. The memories of another man invaded his mind, flames spreading across his thoughts. Take over the drills. [break][break] Storming off, Ashford retreated to his office where he slumped into the back walls. Tears rolling down his face, he wept for a death he could not remember. He grieved for people he did not know. He feared a war that had not yet come knocking on his doors. Are you okay? A familiar voice said as she opened the door. Sliding next to him she sat with her husband. There is chaos inside my mind now. I fear we will not be able to hold the line here. The two embraced for a while, talking about the war and each other. Then the Lieutenant stood up, pulling her husband to his feet. I will go see if I can petition for reinforcements. We can strengthen our walls and hold them back. Okay? Nodding, they shared a kiss before she left. She would be safe, far away from here. But Ashford knew the reinforcements would not matter even if they came. Death was on the horizon now. He only had to weaken it as much as possible. That was his best hope now. I need men on border recon now. Check the surrounding areas. If there are Daemon hiding, I want them taken out. If there are forces, slow them down. The rest will work on reinforcing our base. We will be Lions today. Ashford didn't even know himself what he meant, but there was strength in the words. Even if the strength was not his own, he would embrace it. The flames were his now. The power was his to fight against these Daemon the best he could, until his death.
GM NOTE: First of all, great posts last round, everyone is doing exactly as they need to.
Alpha watched the knight move and was interested as he watched the board. He mimicked the move on his side, creating an odd duality as if the elf daemon were taunting Charles...oddly enough it almost felt like being in the company of another man...Zaven Blake. The scene would recall memories of his chain of missions with the captain of the Golden Dawn in vivid detail...everything seemed to be calculated, including the speaking and taunting. After the move though the female elf stood up and reached across and slapped Alpha across the face. ”You BASTARD! I did EVERYTHING…” The elf woman wept, tears of frustration and sadness fell to the board. ”Yet you still...insist on this trial...how many times have I been this piece in this twisted game of yours?!” She asked with that same energy, her mana bubbled up and the queen chess piece began to twist and affect the board. Alpha just smiled and spoke clearly and calmly ”Varisse...sit down...or I will…”
Meanwhile
To Griswold: ”Sacrifice...a noble deed...or perhaps a selfish thought so that it could be over quicker for you...Just like the rest you fail to see the value in the story.”
A jolt awakens you...you are not in your bed, instead you are the daemon that just killed Commander Ashford. Your mind is clear after that victory, the elven soldiers seem stricken with fear as you stand before them...newly acquired power as the soul of the poor commander is absorbed. As the storm moved overhead the earth began to shake and the daemons are even at a loss for a moment...that is until the back of the fort opened up and a great golem ascended into the sky. On the top of that golem was a single mage, whose power rivaled your own...anger was building inside of this woman as she killed daemon foes and led a charge towards you and the daemon army. You have but one singular thought...destroy. That. Mage.
To Cyrus: ”Just like the others...desire to finish the job, to perform your duty...vengeance...you saw the goal of the trial...not everything you do in your life should be selfless or to better the world around you...sometimes you MUST give into your own rage...vengeance. Is. Universal.”
You awaken...Hama floats above you and you are in a room by yourself. You don’t feel like you have slept, yet you feel energized. Standing before you is that same cloaked figure that was with the Avatar of Aamon earlier. It’s arms are crossed and it does not speak, but a quick look around the room shows that you have definitely ascended from where you were and are now in a large ballroom of sorts, modern amenities adorn the walls and it does not appear that you are in a nefarious tower of battle.
GM NOTE: You have passed your trial...now you are left alone with your spirit and your foe blocks your path, do you attempt to take the beast on alone...or do you wait for the others to arrive.
To Ardere: Varisse looked at her husband...his resolve to fight against what was coming was sincere and she could tell he was working through something, the mention of a name that she had never heard of before worried her...was her husband sick. Yet the day continued without as much as a single incident...were his visions a lie...was that dream simply that? Days would pass, memories slipping through of Silas...the times spent with people that Ashford had no recollection of...scenes of fighting a great daemon….the laugh as time and space itself shattered in his head. Just what was this. Each day Varisse would grow more concerned, and rumors even began to spread that Commander Ashford was going insane.
GM NOTE: Ardere, Griswold...continue your sequences for 1 more round...and hope the answer is found. I will provide a SINGLE hint...if you dm me with a guess of your trial.
”Sit down or I will rend your soul...just as I have done in the past. There is nothing more between us, what was once a past that we shared...is now just lost to the void. Be lucky you have been spared and given a new body...while mine has been...reconstructed.” The pieces of the chessboard shake violently, and it seems as though the knight he had moved...lost all energy. Alpha would make note of it as he would chuckle. ”Interesting development...things are moving faster than I had originally anticipated. Your move Charles.” Alpha said and yet made no more reference to the elf woman, now being revealed as Varisse. The elf woman looked defeated and sat down, that frustration continued to bubble inside of her. This was all unfair and the longer it went on...the more she remembered.
She remembered when she made it to that fort, the night she spent with her husband...and the sickness that plagued him, but there was something different...she was experiencing memories that were not native to her. Ashford is being devoured by a daemon...Ashford being destroyed by the horde as he valiantly lead a charge...the tears fell as she remembered seeing him seemingly lose track of his mind. Whose memories were these, what had Aamon done...why was Alpha doing this?
GM NOTE: This will be the LAST of the untimed rounds, make this count.
I don't know where the future[break][break] will take us,[break][break] But we will blaze it together.[break][break]
wc: ###
twc: ###
@tagme
[break]
[attr="class","ardereescroll"]As the days passed, so did Ashford's sanity. Memories flew through his mind along the rivers of his soul, polluting his mind. Even the men had begun to notice. The Commander was quieter than before, dwelling on the past unlike ever before. What they did not know was he dwelled on a past not his own and a future yet to come. Day in and day out as they ran their drills and did their prep, he was vacant. His eyes were open but it was beyond clear no one was inside. Rumors had begun to spread that he was losing his mind. Was he? [break][break] He had sent Varisse off to get reinforcements, but as he lost his mind he began to lose her too. He could no longer recall the dress she wore on their wedding day, nor the color of the flowers in her hair. She was drifting off into distant memories now. She did not know how to help him, if he even could be helped. He had all but completely lost his wife now. The trust of his men was broken, shattered like glass. The Commander was not only losing everyone he cared about, but losing himself. He grieved for people he did not know. The death of a father--no two fathers that he never had plagued his mind. He had even taking up smoking tobacco, such a human thing to do. Who had he become now? [break][break] As he sat in his study, he had a memory again. It was the same one he always had. Standing in that Tower as time and space rippled around him, he watched a young man like a son to him be ripped to pieces. The face of a monstrous Daemon and its cackling laugh in the distance. Ashford wept for this loss as he did them all. His will had begun to wither down as he kept trying to prepare for the incoming attack, but it had not come. Those around him had begun to think he had completely lost it--he had. But deep down he knew he was right, yet he could not keep this up. His body was breaking and so was his mind. [break][break] There was only one memory of Varisse he could cling onto. Sitting in the woods holding her hand, the two were not fighting Daemon or watching their friends die. They sat in the trees calmly as she sang him a song. The spirits flew along the wind, lighting up the night sky. Even now this had begun to blend with another memory, a similar one of a lean blonde man. Ashford sat close to this man like he did Varisse and shared a happy silence. This was the first time he had found solace in one of these memories. [break][break] When the Daemon finally did come (and they did), Ashford was not strong enough to stop them. All the preparation he had done was nothing compared to the onslaught he faced. His men had lost faith in him. He had lost his wife. He had lost so many in a life not his own. All of this loss had weakened him too much. Now as he fought with all the strength he had left against this enemy, he lost his life. The Daemon overwhelmed them again. Laying there bleeding out on the floor, tears ran down his face. Even now he grieved not for himself, but for those he failed to protect. Varisse. His men. Charles. Griswold. Cyrus. Was he failing them? Was Aamon going to kill him in this memory? Ardere had begun to fully seep through now. Looking down at himself bleeding out, he wept. Fuck. I'm so sorry boys. I failed you. Just like I failed him too. If only...I could've been stronger this time around. Coughing up blood he closed his eyes, fading into whatever memory or life awaited him this time around.
Post by Charles Constantine✾ on Oct 8, 2021 0:17:36 GMT -5
[NOSPACES]
"I'm no g e n i u s, I'm just a fool who keeps going forward."
[break]
@tagme
word count 750
total word count 7531
[attr="class","glentext"] Charles saw Alpha make his move and it mimicked his previous move, moving his own Knight that was located on the same side of the board. It seemed like he was trying to taunt him, which wouldn't work. Mimicking the opponent's movements was sometimes used as a strategy in chess. The energy that he felt from the Knight Alpha had just moved was familiar, he knew who that was. It was Zaven, the Captain of the Golden Dawn, it was as if the Avatar was trying to use someone he considered a comrade against him. The silver mage was slightly surprised by the presence of Zaven on the board, especially on the opposing side. But, he knew that this was done with the purpose of messing around with him. After all, using others was a common tactic among the daemons. If he had Zaven in his possession, the thoughts of him having others as chess pieces were enough to bother him. He decided not to think too much about it and focus on the game. [break][break] His attention was quickly shifted to the female, who he noticed stand up. Only for her to slap Alpha in the face without holding back. Charles was shocked by her sudden action, he knew that she was afraid and mad. He was left to believe those feelings were held towards Alpha and this just proved him right. The silver mage didn't know how to fully react, as one of the last things he had in mind was for the woman to lash out and literally slap the Avatar in the face. The queen chess piece began to react to her actions too. To make matters worse, Alpha smiled and spoke calmly, but he could tell that smile was simply a facade to hold back killing Varisse right there. [break][break] The way everything went down seemed oddly similar to a lover's quarrel. By the looks of it, the two had a relationship at some point, but that is no longer the case as Alpha was now a daemon. Aamon's Avatar was once a silver mage and is Aamon's son, he did claim they were cut from the same cloth, which meant their similarities as they both used to wield the same type of magic. That's why he was able to control Argenti with relative ease. The female elf, known as Varisse was once his wife. Some of his questions were answered at this moment, but this raised even more questions as well. At least, he didn't waste his time on anything, as he had managed to learn something important and just as he had initially sensed. Varisse played an important role in this and she could very well be the key to allow them to defeat Alpha. If there was someone who knew any of his weakness it had to be here and if they could get him out of the picture this would cripple Aamon's forces. ng he could do about it. Unlike Alpha who was enjoying himself with a laugh, the silver mage was left completely unfazed. [break][break] "You surely are a pack of surprises, Alpha..." He said, remarking on the fact that the Avatar had managed to surprise him, despite being familiar with how daemons are. His comment could mean just about anything, but the point still remained. The pieces of chess shake violently, something was going off, and as expected Alpha knew what was going on. Charles went ahead and did his move. The silver mage moved the pawn on the right pawn that was on the left corner, the one that used to be in front of the Knight he had just moved one tile forward. If things were moving after that expected, that meant the rest of his teammates are going to exist the trial soon. [break][break] At the same time, he could feel something was going on with Varisse as if her emotions had shifted. This wasn't the same time she was involved in this trial, nor did it seemed it was the first time she was "disposed of" whatever that exactly meant. She seemed tired of everything and maybe that was something that could end up benefitting them if done right. However, he believed Alpha was no idiot and there was probably a catch to this. He probably knew that she could give them important information unless he was arrogant to think that she wouldn't do such a thing. All he could do is wait and see for the time being... [break]
[break]
POW 090
DUR 141
SEN 010
STA 080
CON 080
[break]
MANA SKIN
HEALTH
MANA REGEN
MANA POOL
archmage
grand
55 IC // 60 OOC
220/220
[break][break]
Combat Summary
[break]TL;DR Magic Knight Mantle, Seer's Fate, Forgotten Heirloom [break][break] Charles moved the pawn on the right pawn that was on the left corner, the one that used to be in front of the Knight he had just moved one tile forward Ki Tier 2 active.
With the commander dead at his feet, a loud howl escaped his lips as the demon that had slain Ashford let out a victorious cry that resounded among the other demons that had temporarily stopped swarming the fortress. As one of their own ascended to new levels of power, the demons rejoiced as the elves seemingly lost their urge to keep fighting. As all sorts of demonic war cries echoed across the battlefield and hit the fortress walls, it was not long before all those dwelling inside had figured out that their commander had perished. It went without saying that many were stricken with grief, particularly those atop the walls that had seen his valiant and solitary charge against the demons, his attempt at decreasing the speed of the demonic charge and influx up until the moment when he paid for it with his life. It was truly quite sad how things had developed from that point onward.
For with the death of the commander, the demon that had dealt the killing blow and devoured his soul received quite the boost in power, allowing it to transcend all that surrounded him. So now, instead of having the numbers required to overtake the elven fort, they now also possessed a demon that had the strength to topple the front gate along with the walls attached to it. Holding out its arms, a quick burst of mana flared up from within, shooting into all directions in the form of a gentle breeze as his feet stopped touching the ground. Hovering in the air above his kin, the demon looked across the elven soldiers that still stood in defense of the fortress, quaking in their boots as they stood on top of their walls. After a momentary silence, the demons had just about finished gloating at the expense of the elves and their commander, ready to continue the assault when they noticed a strange glow.
Rising from the fortress was a golem, and not just any kind of golem, but a humongous kind of golem that towered over the elves beneath it. Just like the demon himself had hovered above his own and inspired the rank and file in the knowledge that they had nothing to fear, now so did the golem do the same every elf in the area. Where they had been shaking in their armored suits mere moments ago, it was now as if they had relocated their will to fight as the demons stood in awe of the golem, as well as the person standing on top of it. Though he knew not who this was, the hovering demon knew that if they were going to win this, that they would need to bring that thing down as soon as possible. But it was not so much this knowledge that drove it into doing what it was about to do, but something else entirely. In truth, there was little intelligence involved when the demon dashed through the air towards the golem.
It was not tactical, nor was it a move born for the sake of its own kin. It was a move born from malice, spite, from anger unrestrained.
Dashing towards the massive golem, the demon held a finger above itself, creating a small sphere on top of it. Though it was not like the original spell at all. Where the original spell copied the appearance of a sun that cast a bright light on the surrounding area. This version however was like a pitch-black sphere with a glowing orange outline, as if one had managed to capture an eclipse in the form of a heavenly body. And the moment he got close enough, that small sphere got fired into the direction of the golem, growing to humongous sizes in the blink of an eye. Deep down inside of him, so deep that it may have well been some entirely different consciousness, it was as if it had always been known that this type of magic had been invented for this kind of thing. The Solar branch of Cosmic was truly nothing more than just a form of large-scale destruction, the kind of indiscriminate destruction that obliterated the creations of man, dwarf, witch and elf alike, as well as taking all of mother nature’s creations along with it.
Infused with pure malice, the black sun shot towards the golem, and once it were to make contact, the blast would likely cost quite a few demons their lives, not to mention the elves below as the expansion even upon exploding would likely topple several towards and weaken the overall structure of the fortress. So even if the attack would not be enough to take out the golem, the demon would just keep attacking again and again until their adversary had perished, all the while allowing the demonic horde to overtake the now weakened fortress and bring the end of the war that much closer.
Name of Spell: Galactic Nucleus: Supergiant Elemental Type: Rank & Spell Type: Grand | Attack Creation Range & Speed: 170 meters (80 m AoE) | 85 m/s Mana Cost: 50 mp | 25 mp sustain Stats Effected: +12 Power, Blind Applicable Perks: Overpowered, Quick Shot, Skilled Sniper & Battle Knight (& Area of Triumph) Description: Initialized by either holding up a finger in the air or pointing a weapon straight up into the air to use the tip as a vocal point, this spell forms a small orb of heavily compressed solar mana, which expands into a massive sphere of roughly 75 cubic meters. Moving quickly, the sheer size of this spell make the "single target" aspect rather pointless as it will incinerate the target and anything standing next to it on impact. Either when hitting a solid object, an equally powerful spell or the designated target, it will violently erupt (explosion AoE range can not venture outside the maximum range of 150 meters). The sheer luminosity of this spell is enough to make any who look at it blind for one whole post, as the impact of the spell warps the area beyond repair, destoying the vast majority of buildings hit and causes all those hit by it to be knocked back for 16 meters + 5 meters for every 10 power the user has. By using the "Ammo" rules, Griswold can determine who will and who will not be harmed by the spell.
Last Edit: Oct 8, 2021 16:55:11 GMT -5 by Griswold
[attr=class,cyrustext]"...-rus! Cyrus! Get up!" A voice called to the Rising Dawn.
Cyrus' eyes snapped open, and the very first thing he saw as he awakened was his dear companion Hama hovering over him. He was laying on the ground, judging by his perspective and the feeling of the ground below him. But something was strange. The tower that he and the others had entered seemed rough and unnatural, from what little he had seen of the interior. But right now, the ground he felt under his head was smooth, even clean.
"Hama?" Cyrus asked, sitting up and getting a good look at the area around him. It was certainly brighter than the previous room he had been in. And not only was it brighter, but it didn't even look like a demonic hell tower's interior logically should. Instead it looked like a luxurious, if empty, dining hall. Not too dissimilar from the one at the Golden Dawn's base, or any of the countless venues he had attended alongside his family growing up.
"Finally you're up! This creepy bastard's just standing there not saying anything!" The spirit of sap told him, pointing over at the cloaked figure. Cyrus recognized the blank shape, but as he looked at them he did not feel the same seething rage that had so possessed him on the floor below. Or that he had experienced in that... would you call it a dream? He wasn't sure if that was really the appropriate way to describe it. It had seemed so real. But the people, the sensations... he looked down at his arm. No injuries to speak of. He seemed as well as he had when he first woke up that morning... In fact, he might even feel a little better.
He felt fresh. Rejuvenated. Not exactly rested, but just... fit. After another short look around the room, Cyrus hopped up to his feet, his boots clicking loudly against the floor. He didn't see any of the others. Ardere and Gris had gone on ahead of him, while Charles... as he recalled, Charles had wanted to try and find something out. Exactly what was going on with the others, he didn't know. Should he press on? He still felt that powerful drive to climb the tower, but was that a good idea? He didn't know where he was, or where the others were. Was he even still in the tower at all?
At the moment, there was only one way he could really hope to learn anything.
Cyrus turned back to look at the shrouded figure, nodding to Hama to stick with him. He walked towards the unknown individual, stopping a fair distance away. "So... are you content to have your identity remain concealed? Or will you show your face as well?" He asked, rubbing his wrist as he thought of what else to say.
An old habit of his was rearing its head.
He held his hand forward towards the mysterious figure, offering a handshake. It was his usual way of introducing himself, after all. "My name is Cyrus Elwood." He said. The introduction lacked his usual warmth, being more professional in tone, but not really holding any malice. Thus far he had yet to see this figure do anything, so he had no real opinion about them. And judging by the others they had seen, who knew why they might be here?
Hama seemed concerned, coming to rest on her usual seat on his shoulder. "Be careful, Cyrus." She urged him, never taking her eye off of the other person. And as they awaited a response, they spoke through their mental connection. Mostly just Cyrus sharing what had happened in the strange dream with her.
[attr="class,cyrusstats]Stats & Information
WC: 0620 | TWC: 6524
[attr="class,cyrusstats]
Mana Skin
24/24
Health
18/18
Mana
455/455
Movement Speed
05
Damage Taken
00
Healing Recieved
00
Mana Used
00
Mana Regen
00
[attr="class,cyrusstats] Combat Notes N/A
Items On Hand Magic Knight's Mantle Scorpion's Eclipse Strength of a Nation Puppeteer of the Current
“Supreme excellence consists of breaking the enemy's resistance without fighting.” ― Sun Tzu, The Art of War
Ardere...finds himself no longer on the battlefield, but instead...he finds himself looking at young Cyrus introducing himself to the cloaked figure from the floor below, the voice that rings in his head is it taunting the man, or is it just speaking ”Loss...It was the loss of my own humanity that drove me to become something...inhuman...and now with your witness of a...memory that pit and that...sorrow magnified, it is maddening yes? Dwell on it...become better for this is not the only trial”. Beside the Crimson King...Griswold also blinks...waking up as the words ring in his head, ” ANGER! Now you understand...that anger that is felt when what you love is taken...or when something challenges your superiority...good, I still feel it within you as well. A parting gift you could say. You should use that anger, for I can promise you...nothing here will be holding back.” Salamander joins its master as the spirit of flame has a peculiar feel to it now...anxious and even a partial glimpse of fright. Something was wrong here; and as the two of the Royal Knights take in the sight as described; the room shows that the three of our heroes have definitely ascended from where they were and are now in a large ballroom of sorts, modern amenities adorn the walls and it does not appear that they all reside in a nefarious tower of battle.
As Cyrus tries to introduce himself, that feeling of brutal malice overcomes him, emanating from the figure as it uncrosses its arms. He has but a moment before the creature motions softly to his comrades. Ardere and Griswold have suddenly made their reappearance and now...they are all connected again...except for Charles.
”Your friends have managed to pass the first trials. Good” Alpha says as he moved the knight to overtake one of his closest pawns, a move that was looking like it was done in simple passing, as if the life of his knight meant so little. ”I am enjoying this Charles, but soon the games will come to an end and you can see this, yes?” The chess board was looking a little bare as a few pieces had managed to make their own independent moves regardless of the player’s own will. Varisse looked at Alpha with hatred, moving a hand up and taking the queen and throwing it against the wall in a defiant stance against the amalgamation that seemed to be toying with her. The memories of a past that was not the truth had made her ache all over, throwing her mana out of whack as she seemingly began to succumb to the darker mana of this tower.
She was breathing hard as she brought her own grimoire up and looked at Alpha. ”I have had enough, these ignorant mortals do not need to see the memories of our failures or our success. You are only giving them a false hope. Charles...stand up! Fight with me!” She implored Charles to abandon the game and to take up arms against the Avatar of Aamon. Meanwhile Alpha’s smile only grew into a heinous toothy grin. ”YES!!! Do it Charles, REBEL...rebel with this woman and intertwine her fate with yours. FIGHT. ME.” Alpha said as he moved another pawn, out of turn, but it would be in a direction that Charles would almost see as if it was intercepting his next move. Something was feeling off about this whole thing...planned out almost.
Back to the 5th floor with Ardere, Griswold, and Cyrus…
The figure moved his arms and then lowered his own hood. Revealing a very interesting creature; A humanoid looking monster, its eyes were glowing like plague stricken emerald flames...infernal to even the most occult illiterate in the world. It had a mask life face and even if you only heard of it...it would scream...daemon. With tusks protruding from its mouth and wild hair. ”Oni Magic: Wild Scream” It said solemnly before opening its mouth and unleashing a disastrous and monstrous sounding bestial roar. It sailed through the air in an Area of Effect of 80 meters, moving at 80 m/s with a Single Grand Level of Damage. Once done it rushed forward, not maintaining the spell. Charging Cyrus first since he was the first to approach him.
GM Notes: Annnnd here we go. Combat round. The room is approx. 100 meters in size, and 50 meters tall. Ardere, Griswold, and Cyrus are engaged while Charles has his own issues to deal with.
[attr=class,cyrustext]Cyrus awaited some form of response from the cloaked figure before him, cautiously keeping his attention on the man. Hama watched her friend anxiously, before sensing some familiar presences. "Looks like Ardere and Griswold caught up." She announced to Cyrus, who nodded in response to show that he was listening. That put them at three out of four; all that was missing was Charles.
Cyrus did not have much time to dwell on the matter of their last team member, however, as he felt that awful rage start to burn inside of him the longer he stared at his mysterious opposite. And as the figure finally started to move, the sensation of fury only intensified. Instinctively he snatched his arm back, watching as it finally drew back its hood.
The face, if that was what it truly was, instantly called to mind a creature he had learned about from his studies; an oni. Horned humanoids, though not ones that he remembered being especially tied to the Clover Kingdom. Was this person from a far off land? Or had Oni once roamed Clover as humans did today?
Whatever the case may be, every fiber of Cyrus' being was screaming at him to take action quickly, and so he did. He looked at Hama, who nodded and retreated into his grimoire as he readied a spell. "Fossil Facade!" He shouted out, causing a durable amber shell to encase his own body. Two spheres of sap shot towards Ardere and Griswold at a speed of 75m/s to protect them as well, granting them a similar armor. It was a bit slower than the oni's strange spell, but hopefully the shorter distance between himself and his comrades would make up the difference.
Though his spell had shielded him from the brunt of the attack's force, he could still feel his ears ringing from the brutal wail let out by their opponent. And though it seemed finished with spells for the moment it was not done with him, as it charged the Rising Dawn barehanded. Cyrus readied a second spell, causing tendrils of sap to rise from the ground around him before lashing out towards the oni, intended to try and restrain it. "Sap Strangle!" He called out the name of the spell as he held one hand to the side, allowing the chain of his Scorpion's Eclipse to drop free before swinging it to slash at the Oni with the barbed chain.
As the sap tendrils reached towards the oni, Cyrus would clasp his other hand in an unspoken command; he was going to try and immobilize the enemy completely for a moment, locking down its movements.
[attr="class,cyrusstats]Stats & Information
WC: 0444 | TWC: 6968
[attr="class,cyrusstats]
Mana Skin
24/24
Health
18/18
Mana
455/455
Movement Speed
05
Damage Taken
00
Healing Recieved
00
Mana Used
80
Mana Regen
80
[attr="class,cyrusstats] Combat Notes Protected self, Griswold, and Ardere with Fossil Facade, Fossil Facade took Grand damage Used Sap Strangle on oni, activating Lockdown perk to try and immobilize it Swung with the barbed chain of his Scorpion's Eclipse weapon
Items On Hand Magic Knight's Mantle Scorpion's Eclipse Strength of a Nation Puppeteer of the Current
Description: A powerful defensive maneuver developed primarily with the intention of protecting Cyrus' golems, though it can also be applied to people as well. When cast, this spell produces an orb of amber roughly a foot in diameter that rushes towards the intended target(s). Once it reaches an applicable figure, the sphere shapes itself around the target, encasing them in a durable armor shell that can withstand attacks as powerful as an Archmage spell. Those protected receive a +12 buff to their Durability stat, or +10 if it is cast on multiple targets.
Thanks to Self-repairing, the Fossil Facade can repair itself to full strength a maximum of three separate times so long as it is not entirely destroyed. Cyrus is also capable of reinforcing its Durability by +20 twice per thread for a single post with Final Stand. Multiple sets of armor can be produced so long as Cyrus meets the Control requirements as per the ammo rules.
Name of Spell: Sap Strangle
Elemental Type: Sap | Restraining
Rank & Spell Type: Senior
Range & Speed: 80m | 40m/s
Mana Cost: 30 | 15
Stats Effected: -9 Control, -15 mana regen
Applicable Perks: Lockdown
Description: Several tentacles form around the user of this spell as it is cast. At the caster’s command these tentacles will shoot towards the chosen target with the intent to wrap around them. Should they succeed, the tendrils will impede the victim’s mana regeneration by 15, and reduce their Control stat by 9. So long as the target is bound their casts per post will be reduced to half. As per ammo rules, a sufficiently high Control stat will allow for multiple enemies to be targeted, or for multiple tentacles to target an individual.
I don't know where the future[break][break] will take us,[break][break] But we will blaze it together.[break][break]
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twc: ###
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[attr="class","ardereescroll"]Ardere awoke from his dismal slumber with tears in his eyes. Trailing thick pale fingers across the lid of his eyes, he wiped the tears from his face. It's been some time since I wept. I needed that. So thank you. Salamander. He had never been so joyful to be reunited with the dragon--they were partners though after all. The spirit retreated inside of his form and he could feel the warmth of the dragon once more. I needed that to remind me how far I've come, Ashford. The Crimson King did not know if Ashford could even hear him or not, but he knew there was more to this. They were shown these memories from a reason, even if it was just torture.We've both lost so much. He whispred as flames began to crawl across the Crimson Lion Captains' skin as his aura increased by the second. His will was indomitable now, after all of the pain and the sorrow. Grief changed a man, but it was the man who chose what to do with his grief. [break][break] You can let loss turn you into a monster....or you can grab it by the horns and own it! This grief is my own! Ardere knew exactly what that was like. He spent months in his office, smoking and drinking his pain away. Everything changed when he met Salamander. The fiery pit inside him was all but extinguished until that day, the day he found his strength again. Looking at the hooded creature in front of the group, he spoke directly to it now even if it was not responsible for what transpired.Allow me to thank you for reminding me of who I am--by kicking your ass! It all happened so fast. the monster before them was fast, too fast to react to so easily. Fortunately he was not alone in this fight--Cyrus and Griswold were here. He wondered what pain they had suffered in their dreams. How did their experiences differ? While he wanted to dwell on that and the whereabouts of Charles, he did not have the time. Was he still trapped in a dream like they had been or was he somewhere else? The Captain could only hope the silver mage was okay and fight in his stead. [break][break] Cyrus reacted promptly by activating his defensive spell--a smart move. The blast sent Ardere sliding across the ground a few meters, but he did not suffer major damage. Even if he was hit directly by such a move, it would not stop him. He was no ordinary man after all. His mana skin could compensate for that damage in the worst case. So regardless of that he activated a series of spells. It's been a while since I tried this out. Surtr. Siegfried's Arsenal. Crimson King: Ryujin. All three of these spells were activated simultaneously. Scales began to crawl across his skin, turning a shade of crimson red as four extra arms sprouted from his sides and near his laterals. Yellow eyes and long claws, this was no longer a man but a beast. A dragon-like visage with multiple limbs and a massive wingspan. Ripping four blades from his grimoire, the beast-like mage burst forth at eighty meters per second, attempting to flank the monster pursuing his friend. He made a hand motion towards Griswold in an attempt to get him to flank from the other side if possible. It was highly likely the other mage was already on the move, but it was an attempt at coordination at least. Spiraling through the air with his blades, he held two in a stand grip with the other two in a reverse grip to unleash a flurry of blows if he could. I haven't come up with a name for this spell combination yet. Perhaps I'll call it....Oni Slayer. The name reminded him of his ancestral homeland. What was more curious was the name of this magic he was utilizing. Oni was a term from the Land of the Rising Sun. They were similar to Daemon or Devils, but a bit different. What was this kind of Daemon doing here?
Name of Spell: Surtr[break] Elemental Type: Fire[break] Rank & Spell Type: Senior | Attack Creation/Transformation (Transfigure)[break] Range & Speed: Melee | N/A[break] Mana Cost: 24 (12)[break] Stats Effected: +9 power[break] Applicable Perks: Mana Conservationist, Battle Knight.[break] Description: Ardere will quite literally sprout four extra arms which are encased in searing hot flames. These arms are the same length as his own, with no differences other than two come from above his primary arms, and two come from below. The flames can be used in aid for physical combat, and will deal blunt force damage as well as burn. The burns are close to third degree, leaving serious marks, and the arms themselves being fueled by Attack creation magic alongside Transformation will also provide knockback. [break][break] Name of Spell: Siegfried's Arsenal[break] Elemental Type: Fire[break] Rank & Spell Type: Grand | Attack Creation[break] Range & Speed: 80 m area| 75 m/s[break] Mana Cost: 40 (20)[break] Stats Effected: +22 Power[break] Applicable Perks: Mana Conservationist, Battle Knight, Signature Spell.[break] Description: This is Ardere's most often used spell, and one he learned from his father (It being a mirror of his father's signature spell). It has gotten stronger as he has, and this is the final version of this spell. He creates a massive sword out of flame. Being 2 meters in length it is long enough to match his own height but not too large to be awkward when wielding. The user can grab this sword, but they can also manipulate it in an 80 meter area, being 40 m radially around them-self. They can manipulate it to stab or slash or twirl, anything the user can think of. For every 50 control the user has, they can make an extra sword. These swords are powerful enough to cleave through stone and metal like it was butter, and limbs are just the same. These spells do have the ability to kill. [break][break] Name of Spell: Crimson King: Ryujin[break] Elemental Type: Fire[break] Rank & Spell Type: Grand | Transformation (Transfigure - Transport) | Physical Reinforcement (Speed)[break] Range & Speed: Self | 60 m/s[break] Mana Cost: 40 (20)[break] Stats Effected: +20 m/s[break] Applicable Perks: Mana Conservationist, Predator's Mutation.[break] Description: The user quite literally transmutes their own body to grow wings that appear like those of a dragon, and burst into flames. The user's fingers also extend by 4 inches into claws with red scales that go up his arms/legs/torso and across his face, his feet being subject to the same claw growth as his hands. Ardere's eyes will even turn a piercing yellow, with vertical slit eyelids. The wings themselves are 50 inches. This spell's speed is further increased via the use of Physical Reinforcement magic, causes Ard's veins to pulse as magic flows through them. Ardere can transport others if he wishes, with a maximum of 5 people.
