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Tales of Alidaire: The Struggle

Discussion in 'Statistical Roleplays' started by Masquerade, Jul 19, 2011.

  1. "This means a Restocasian is behind this..." Hikari ventured forward, thought she followed with a "...no?" as if to confirm this. She doubted anyone would like for it to be true, considering the Restocasians' reputation--they supposedly excelled in both physical and magical combat.

    She found it relatively hard to shift her attention to the rest of the room--the circle itself was startlingly black, and occult symbols and other iconography was present as well, shapes nearly flawlessly weaving the entire glyph. It was, nevertheless, a product of obscure magic... they might as well have reached the source. Why does it feel we haven't, though? she idly wondered, but shook her head as she gazed around. Hikari, on her part, considered the cages of little importance at the moment, when the work table with notorious traces of practiced alchemy was right before the group, its presence suspicious.

    It was clear they weren't going to fight anything, so she put Absolute Eye away after a couple of seconds. Maybe they wouldn't have to fight anyone--or anything--after all.


    Hikari starts at H7.
     
  2. Mai entered into the chamber after the rest, handle on her blade gripped as she prepared for the worst. As they charged into the immediate area, Mai drew her blade, swinging it slightly as her eyes immediately dashed about the room. Crates with unknown items within, a table adorning a strange workplace of what was obviously some dark science, and a large cage at the side took up most of the area of the room. Mai's eyes scattered from item to item, her energy slowly fading as she immediately came to a realization.

    No enemies yet.

    And the door to the next room as locked.

    Mai sighed, placing her weapon back into its hilt as what would have been potentially one of the biggest battles she had come in contact with was halted by a simply locking mechanism of the door. Her fist tightened, a small swirl of energy running over her knuckles before receding. She could and would very much want to obliterate the door, blast it off its hinges to allow them to proceed immediately. But, as her logic immediately calmed her, it wasn't quite the smartest. There was no telling what was on the other side, or even if the door was magically protected or booby trapped. Brute force wasn't necessarily the best tactic with such guerilla strategy they were performing. It made her sigh, looking about as there was only one option.

    Rummaging. The word sounded gross, causing Mai to scrunch her face slightly as she chose which were to be the first places to look. Hopefully, just hopefully, she wouldn't find what she does not want to. To hell if she opened one of those crates and more of those devilish imps spawned! Grumpily, she pushed her way from the doorway.


    Mai starts at I3.
     
  3. Stry stood near the corner of the empty cage, ears pricked forward as if in interest. No enemies, a locked door. The Kitsune gave a slight sigh as he looked around at the crates, the statues, the table. His pose was casual, as usual, but he carried himself with a strange mix of anticipation and trepidation. All they had to do was find the key.

    "It can't be this easy."

    It had to have been the first time the fox-eared boy had spoken with any hesitant inflection to his voice. He looked around the room again, curiously. His tails were bristling slightly. It really couldn't be so easy. In a room so obviously used for arcane purposes- almost looking like alchemy, at least to Stry- with a cage, and the only barrier to advancement was a locked door... He shook his head and got ready to search anyway.

    [Strytor starts at H4.]
     
  4. {Helena starts at I7}

    Helena bristled a little, still in a crouched position, as Stry seemingly chuckled about the state of the affairs that the madness of the king had placed them in. Almost as though he were laughing off their accomplishments... the investigations they had done. Perhaps he really was not to be trusted. It all unnerved Helena - the boy was out of place here. Clearly out of his element, and he just seemed to want more, no matter what was thrown at him. Her eyes narrowed a bit as she glowered at him, before blinking sharply and standing up, turning away in the process. She started to answer his question, but Kat got a word in before she was able to whet her tongue on the subject. "Kat's right. Dunno how long I, at least'll be around after this whole thing." she answered quite curtly. If we do stick around, foxboy, I'm not sure how much I care for you hanging about... she thought, bitterly, to herself. It wasn't his words that pissed off the archer, but his demeanour. It did not belong in the midst of such a situation... and his presence only seemed to aggravate the woman.

    But such problems were easily quelled by a deep exhalation. After all of his annoyances, he had been slightly useful - something Helena had definitely not accounted for. But she looked past the boy for now, not wanting to particularly be locked into a conversation with him at this point. The stress of the night was getting to her, as well. Besides that, beyond the slight hallway, Hikari coughed audibly, before asking about moving on. Alexandra's body language spoke equal volumes about her impatience with the whole matter, and it just didn't strike Helena as useful to delay whatever it was that was waiting for them beyond the door to the undercroft any longer. She nodded at Kat, and continued behind the rest of the group as they filed through the small doorway, as Helena pondered just what it could be that they would find there. More demons? A larger, leading demon? The place seemed to be a thriving mass of unresponsive guards and laughing monsters... hardly suitable for something that was supposedly so regal.

    The king left his people to starve. Left us better for dead. Of course demons lurk here... she thought, clenching her fists as she recalled the strife with the Chaos Knight himself. Perhaps it was all a metaphor - an elaborate plan cooked up by Masquerade himself to make a big show of Albert's rule of the kingdom. After all, he had said there had been a powerful magic conjured beneath the castle... could he have set the whole thing up himself? Helena grimaced at the thought... Even Stry's amused tone as he asked about the man made her question it. Though it had pissed her off mere seconds ago, now it left her deep in thought. He was obviously far more than just any ordinary baker... But Helena trusted him, even still. He had let them know too much for him to be any adversary of theirs. She sighed. The length of the night was getting to her...

    She entered the room. The place they had fought so many enemies to enter... but yet, it still seemed almost to easy... but that was when she saw the glyph in the centre of the room. It stared at her, emanating powerful magic. A room like this seemed a curious place to leave such powerful magic. Very subtle. She looked at Kat warily, a look of concern evident on her face for a moment. Kat spoke, noting the origin of the symbols. "So Masquerade was correct, then..." she muttered to herself. "Bloody hell." Her blood-red eyes widened as she looked back to the glyph. It was orderly and flourished, and written in a language that - inconveniently - Helena couldn't decipher. "So what does it say, then?" she asked, with a very notable curiosity. The huntress crossed her arms, returning to an impassive stance.

    Alexandra called from across the room, noting that their path was once again blocked. This would not do at all. "Well shit, stopped at every turn we wanna make." Helena interjected irritably. Stry was definitely right about one thing - this seemed far too easy. There was no way that something greater was not at work here...
     
  5. Chapter 02-E: Occupied

    Location: Archaea Castle - Undercroft

    Objective: Find the key to the storage room!

    Background: ~Ritual Grounds~

    {w} {w} {w} {w} {X} {w} {w} {w} {w} A
    {w} {c} {c} { } {A} { } {c} {s} {w} B
    {w} {c} { } { } { } { } { } {o} {w} C
    {w} {a} {a} {a} { } { } { } {t} {w} D
    {w} { } { } {a} { } { } { } {t} {w} E
    {w} { } { } {a} { } { } { } {t} {w} F
    {w} {a} {a} {a} { } { } { } {t} {w} G
    {w} {c} {c} {S} { } {K} {I} { } {w} H
    {w} {c} {M} { } { } { } {H} {s} {w} I
    {w} {w} {w} {w} {d} {w} {w} {w} {w} J
    -1---2---3---4---5---6---7---8---9


    Alexandra (Blue Mage)
    Move: 3 cells

    Kat (Arrow Sage)
    Move: 3 cells

    Helena (Night Huntress)
    Move: 4 cells

    Mai (Dragon Apprentice)
    Move: 3 cells

    Strytor (Kitsune)
    Move: 3 cells

    Hikari (Lumiere Skillblade)
    Move: 3 cells

    {d} - Undercroft Door (cannot be occupied)

    {X} - Storage Room Door (cannot be occupied)

    {c} - Crate (cannot be occupied)
    Trigger Command: Search (Range: Adjacent cell.)

    {a} - Cage (cannot be occupied)

    {s} - Statue (cannot be occupied)
    Trigger Command: Examine (Range: Adjacent cell.)

    {t} - Work Table (cannot be occupied)
    Trigger Command: Examine (Each segment can be examined. Range: Adjacent cell.)

    {o} - Wicker Container (cannot be occupied)
    Trigger Command: Search (Range: Adjacent cell.)

    {w} - Wall (cannot be occupied)

    Player Phase 1!

    Alexandra moves to B4.

    Wasting no time, Alexandra rushed off to the side of the door to check the crates that were stacked in the corner. With great distaste, she tossed off the linen covering it and rummaged around within. There seemed to be naught but junk within the crate. She could only hope that the key was somewhere within. She cursed mentally that there was so much to check, but hopefully it wouldn't take them long to find the key with so many of them there. They should be able to cover the ground more quickly.

    Alexandra uses Trigger Command: Search on Crate (B3)!


    Before moving off to explore the nearby table with all the alchemic equipment and materials, Kat gazed down at the glyph. "Yes, a Restocasian is definitely behind this," the arrow sage affirmed Hikari's statement once more. They were dealing with a dangerous customer here. Her eyes scanned the letters on the stone floor composing the circle. They didn't appear to spell out words, per se, but there was a definitely symbology that she had learned about when Lucian was teaching her the ways of magic back when... "There are symbols in these letter patterns. 'Pulse.' 'Pump.' 'Fuel.' This glyph is meant to enhance the ability to give power to something. That can also be expanded to say that it's used to increase the range of the magic cast while continuously fueling the spell somehow. I hate to say it, but all this ritual stuff isn't the source itself. I am positive that there's something else. What it could be...I just don't know." She paused and nearly blushed as she felt a shiver course down her spine. She wasn't one to be frightened easily. "But I...don't think I want to find out." The statement came out, but she severely wished she had kept it to herself. She didn't want the others to doubt her--to think that she was chickening out now. Alexandra had so much resolve that it was scary and awe-inspiring in and of itself. Maybe she could defeat whatever was on the other side of the door with everyone's help.

    Kat moves to F7.

    Kat moved over to the table now, gazing at one spot in particular while trying to identify the materials there. "Don't think I'm out of the game though," she spoke up more confidently, a smirk gracing her eloquent face. They were literally one step away from the truth now. Beyond that door lied their fate. Not much of a believer in such a thing, she couldn't forget about what Nanila had said. The night was not going to end well. This had been foretold by a woman with great power, and though Kat didn't know her personally, she had no reason to doubt the prophet.

    Kat uses Trigger Command: Examine on Work Table (F8)!
     
  6. {Helena activates Trigger Command: Examine on Statue (I8)!}
    {Helena moves to E7 [I7 - H7 - G7 - F7 - E7]}


    Helena shivered slightly as Kat read the symbols of the glyph aloud to the group. It was unnerving that there was more to this mystery than just an eerily-painted piece of ancient magic left on the ground... and moreso that they would need to face it. However, this did not cause Alexandra to waver, and even though the normally-stoic Kat herself seemed frightened, she kept a strong face on. "Aye, Kat... don't think you're wrong in showin' a little fear." Helena shot the woman a smile, "After all, it builds character. Gets the adrenaline pumpin'." In truth, the huntress herself was a little worried for what they would find after they had found the key... but Kat was surely more worried about the prophecy that she had received from Nanila.

    The huntress' eyes showed a small tinge of sadness, coated in sympathy. She turned back to the statue she stood in front of, staring closely at it. Poor gal... doesn't do anyone any good to be locked into fate... Her face contorted into a grimace, though she did not want Kat to see that. It wouldn't do her anything to see any cracks forming in the group. Not when they were so close to finding out the underlying dilemma inside of the castle, and perhaps by the end of the night, the 'not so pleasant' reunion that Nanila had foreseen. Suddenly, the crystal ball seemed far heavier attached to her belt. It did not belong to her... but still, she kept it. Better that way... nobody else can be hurt by the future if I hold it... she reasoned mentally with herself. But did that truly make any sense? At this point, she was not about to let such a minor pang of guilt keep her from doing what she felt was right.

    She turned the statue, looking slightly behind it so as not to leave any cranny unchecked. Upon finishing that, she strode towards the centre of the room - towards the strange, powerful glyph that was 'pumping' and 'pulsing' and 'fuelling.' Helena felt the strange chill return to her. It was almost too strange. She knelt down and took a closer look at it. "Not a problem if I... touch it, is there?" she looked to Kat for clarification. She really just wanted to see just how recently the spell had been left here. Whether or not the source of the magic really was just ahead...

    ...and if it was, what would she do...?
     
  7. Stry remained relatively quiet as Helena spoke to Kat and the team moved to search the room. Shrugging a bit, the Kitsune looked through the crate nearest him, stuffing his clawed hand into the wooden box to search. Probably not the smartest thing to do, but whatever, He thought dryly. He was still uneasy about the entire thing. The room could be one big trap, a bait-box for the prey that was the group of fighters.

    He pulled away slightly at the thought, but kept his ears pricked and his fingers trailing through the items in the crate- just in case they key was in there so that he could hear the sound of upset metal or feel it catch in his hand. His slate eyes flicked between everyone else. "By the way, what exactly do you plan to do if the key is not here?" He asked, tone akin to his earlier, more sarcastic questions, but with a note of sincerity to it. He walked forward a bit, almost carefully, peering curiously into the empty cage as he passed it. I wonder who or what was important or threatening enough to need to be caged inside this kind of room... He snorted after a minute, the flash of a grin crossing his face at what would appear to be his own private joke. Of course, we may well find out for ourselves soon enough...

    [Strytor activates Trigger Command: Search on H3.

    Strytor moves to F5.]
     
  8. Hikari moves to G7 (H7 - G7).


    Hikari listened to Kat as she herself made her way to the work table... it was comparatively alien to her, and not just because the very art of alchemy seemed intricate and arcane, but because of the fact she was not very knowledgeable in the theoretic core of the concept of magic itself. She had the grasp, sure, but the spells she employed to conjure the light she fought with were just a base, or rather, a complement to her own combat ability. Hikari repeated in her mind, grasping the free-floating concepts to weave in an uncertain truth they... would inevitably find soon, Isn't the source itself... But then what could it be?

    She examined the work table, careful to not knock the individual flasks and reagents over as she inspected the items one by one, at least those which were in her immediate reach. Greater magic? More... demons? she grimaced at the idea... the possibility that this castle had been overrun by the hellspawn. But then again, they had to have been specifically summoned for this to happen... demons wouldn't just normally appear in such areas normally, not even lesser creatures such as the Imps they fought before. "The Restocasian...?" the the thought materialized as a whisper she kept just low enough for her and her only to listen to...


    Hikari uses Trigger Command: Examine on Work Table (G8).
     
  9. Mai focused on the crate in front of her, simply changing her focus to finding that key. Surely, the symbol she had crossed over was evidently quite an interesting and strange marking, intricately made at most. But it was not her attention right now, nor was it /her/ interest. By what Kat had deciphered, it was not an offensive glyph, but one to enhance something else. She would much desire to obscure the glyph, but not knowing the magics herself, it was not a risk she wanted. Instead, she struck the crate in front of her, popping it open from its seal to show what was inside. As she reached in and began moving the items about to search for the key, she also began to truly ponder what was to happen on the other side of that door, what was to happen to this group of theirs.

    She knew fully well what would happen to her. I'll be going back to the mountains, She thought, shaking her head. I should have never left, and I am to be taking the test to become a dragon warrior. These teammates aren't too wanting of me, and I'm not too wanting of them. I have better things ahead...


    Mai uses Trigger Command: Search the Crate on Crate (I2)!
     
  10. Alexandra searched the crate!

    Alexandra found Broken Wing! [Added to Inventory]

    Kat examined the work table!

    Kat found Potion of Invisibility! [Added to Inventory]

    Kat found Burnt Newt! [Added to Inventory]

    Helena examined the statue!

    ...

    Helena found the Storage Room Key!! [Added to Inventory]

    Helena found Gargoyle's Wish! [Added to Inventory]

    Stry searched the crate!

    Stry found Alarm Machina! [Added to Inventory]

    Stry found Clean Linen! [Added to Inventory]

    Stry found Ominous Letter! [Added to Inventory]

    Hikari examined the work table!

    Hikari found Nightshade! [Added to Inventory]

    Hikari found Potion of Vengeance! [Added to Inventory]

    Hikari found Crude Love Potion! [Added to Inventory]

    Hikari found Empty Vial! [Added to Inventory]

    Mai searched the crate!

    Mai found Portrait - Landscape! [Added to Inventory]

    Mai found Portrait - Valentine! [Added to Inventory]

    Chapter 02-E: Occupied

    Location: Archaea Castle - Undercroft

    Objective: Find the key to the storage room!

    Background: ~Ritual Grounds~

    {w} {w} {w} {w} {X} {w} {w} {w} {w} A
    {w} {c} {c} {A} { } { } {c} {s} {w} B
    {w} {c} { } { } { } { } { } {o} {w} C
    {w} {a} {a} {a} { } { } { } {t} {w} D
    {w} { } { } {a} { } { } {H} {t} {w} E
    {w} { } { } {a} {S} { } {K} {t} {w} F
    {w} {a} {a} {a} { } { } {I} {t} {w} G
    {w} {c} {c} { } { } { } { } { } {w} H
    {w} {c} {M} { } { } { } { } {s} {w} I
    {w} {w} {w} {w} {d} {w} {w} {w} {w} J
    -1---2---3---4---5---6---7---8---9


    The key to the storage room has been found!
    CHAPTER COMPLETE!!

    EXPERIENCE:

    +3 - Key found
    +3 - Ominous letter found
    +3 - Materials recovered
    +2 - Player Phase completed less than 10

    TOTAL EXP GAIN: 11

    Alexandra: 4/36 --- 15/36
    Next Level: 15/36

    Kat: 15/36 --- 26/36
    Next Level: 26/36

    Helena: 26/36 --- 37/36
    Level UP!
    3 Stat Points gained!
    Next Level: 1/36

    Mai: 13/24 --- 24/24
    Level UP!
    3 Stat Points gained!
    JOB PROMOTION!!
    3 Stat Points gained!
    2 Specialized Skill Points gained!
    Next Level: 0/36

    Strytor: 11/16 --- 22/16
    Level UP!
    3 Stat Points gained!
    Next Level: 6/24

    Hikari: 12/36 --- 23/36
    Next Level: 23/36

    Skill Points Awarded!

    +1: Helena, Mai, Stry
    +0: Alexandra, Kat, Hikari

    The Party receives no Gold...

    No items found...

    Edit your profiles, please~ Update will come shortly.
     
  11. With key in hand, the group was finally able to discover the truth--the source behind the corruption of the king, Chaos Knight Albert Valentine. The key was passed to Alexandra whose fingers gripped it tightly. There was something akin to apprehension now that she finally stood before the door leading to the storage room. Was it fear that kept her rooted there, arms stiff as a board by her sides? The noble felt a hand upon her shoulder and turned her head to see that it was Kat. The enigmatic woman said nothing, only giving Alexandra a comforting, yet firm smile. Alexandra's hand rose to the keyhole on the door slowly, and with a sharp breath, she inserted it and turned it. There was a resounding click that echoed throughout the undercroft signifying that it was the right key after all. Alexandra gulped and opened the door, stepping through it with the others right behind her. The storage room was very large, but oddly empty. The walls were lined with junk except the back wall which housed something much more disturbing. A wooden stage had been built against that wall, and upon the stage sat what looked like an enormous human heart that was black and purple in hue. Thick tendrils latched onto the walls and the ceiling, and the places where the tendrils were latched were dripping with pure darkness. The heart pumped and beat like normal, sending something through the tendrils into the castle's foundation. What it was pumping was something up for speculation. There wasn't any telling, but one could imagine.

    The floor before the stage had been cleared and polished, the stone having an odd sheen. Alexandra took a few tentative steps forward and drew her saber. Her mind could not comprehend what she was looking at. "This...this is it. THIS is what's causing the corruption!" she shouted, pointing her weapon accusingly at the giant heart, her arm trembling.

    "Your Majesty, let us not forget that someone placed this here," Kat cautioned, keeping her eyes peeled instead of focusing on Alexandra who seemed as ready to destroy as usual. "Whoever is behind this could be anywhere, so we'll have to be careful." Kat took out her bow and tapped it against her thigh. The glyph in the other room made sense now. This was the vessel that was meant to pump what Kat could only fathom as pure evil throughout this establishment. It was that very essence of evil that was tainting Albert's normally pure soul. Pump the evil. Fuel the taint. That glyph was amplifying this thing's abilities. However, it seemed the conclusion that they must kill the heart had been reached. There wasn't much of a choice. They couldn't let Alexandra rush in there by herself. This was it. If they could destroy the heart now, Albert might have a chance of recovery. It'll be worth every bit of pain that we're bound to feel in this struggle...to get the country back to normal, and to see Alexandra happy for once, Kat thought, realizing that she had only really seen once side of Alexandra since they had met--the impassioned, forceful, brazen side that could only come from a young woman who was intent on saving her family and her kingdom.

    And that was that.

    Chapter 02-F: Truth

    Location: Archaea Castle - Storage Room

    Objective: Destroy the Shadow Heart!

    Background: ~Tantamount to Purification~

    {w} {w} {S} {S} {S} {S} {w} {w} {w} A
    {w} {s} {S} {S} {S} {S} {s} { } {w} B
    {w} {s} {S} {S} {S} {S} {s} { } {w} C
    {w} { } { } { } { } { } { } { } {w} D
    {w} { } { } { } {A} { } { } { } {w} E
    {w} { } { } {K} { } { } { } { } {w} F
    {w} { } { } { } { } { } { } { } {w} G
    {w} { } { } { } { } { } { } { } {w} H
    {w} { } { } { } { } { } { } { } {w} I
    {w} {w} {w} {w} {X} {w} {w} {w} {w} J
    -1---2---3---4---5---6---7---8---9


    Alexandra (Blue Mage)
    HP: 40/40
    MP: 35/35
    DD: 8/10
    Atk: 17
    Def: 7
    Int: 10
    Spr: 9
    Evade: 10%
    Move: 3 cells

    Kat (Arrow Sage) *ARCANE ESSENCE [4]*
    HP: 40/40
    MP: 50/50
    DD: 10/10
    Atk: 2
    Def: 9
    Int: 15
    Spr: 13
    Evade: 8%
    Move: 3 cells

    Shadow Heart
    HP: 1200/1200
    MP: 875/875
    DD: 0/10
    Atk: 14
    Def: 7
    Int: 16
    Spr: 8
    Evade: 3%
    Move: 0 cells

    {X} - Storage Room Door (cannot be occupied)

    {w} - Wall Lined With Junk (cannot be occupied)

    {s} - Stage (cannot be occupied)

    Players may start in rows E-I!
     
  12. As Mai apprehensively waited for the door to pull open, she drew her sword, taking in a mighty breathe and exhaling it slowly. The thick blade in her hand was doing well so far, and she wished upon it the best as they awaited what would be the final battle to end this. Looking behind her, it almost felt as if this was the last moment in time, the final frontier into a different world. No matter how ridiculous she knew that was, she couldn't really shrug off the feeling. Who knew what was on the other side?...

    Well, now they will.

    Mai's attention returned back to the door as it creaked slowly, metal groaning as it was shoved open. As the group shuffled in, she stopped and took a look around. Junk, all cleared to the corners of the area by some unknown being or force. She assumed there was more within here, but had been shoved out. Her gaze then rested on the main attraction, the spectacle set upon a finely made stage for what seemed to be an obvious purpose. Whether or not it was made to be the center of attention or not, it shocked her either way. The massive throbbing black and purple mass which looked to be the life of the evil in the castle pumped and coursed large amounts of its black ooze directly into the walls of the storage room, what could be described as the heart of evil fueling the darkness of this place. Mai's gaze hardened, gripping her sword tightly. This is what forced them to fell this poor girl's closest relative, this is what caused the deaths of many. Translucent tendrils of blue energy shifted and swirled about Mai's form slowly, rising in intensity as she stood.

    "This abomination must be destroyed," she stated clearly, her voice ringing about the room. Although the others knew it well enough, someone had to confirm the action, to push the thought to the front of their minds. At least it worked for her, spinning her blade as she approached it slowly, awaiting the official order to impale this wicked organ and cease its function entirely.


    Mai starts at E3! Mai's S-ability "Dragon Rush" activates! Bestows Haste!
     
  13. The Kitsune let out a low whistle as he gazed at the gigantic heart. For once, Stry's stony gray eyes betrayed a genuine surprise, perhaps even consternation, as his gaze flickered to other parts of the room. It seemed that they were alone with the Shadow Heart, not that that was exactly reassuring. He let out a snort that quickly melded into a chuckle as if to steady his nerves, his grin one of grim anticipation. Stry looked to his allies, ears pricked up sharp and alert.

    "I think it's obvious to all of us that this thing must be eliminated, Mai," He drawled, "even I know, and I'm still not sure what's going on." He cut the teasing short for once, returning his focus to the Shadow Heart and keeping his further thoughts to himself. Stumbled into something larger, indeed, He thought, still in his normally relaxed stance. Now let's hope I don't get myself killed.

    [Strytor starts at F8.]
     
  14. {Helena starts at H6}

    Helena, in her haste to get a better look at the glyph, almost did not realize that she had broken off a small shard of the stone statue that she had been examining. It emanated some sort of residual power, as though it had been begging her to carry it along with her... She concealed the broken fragment in her pack, hoping that it might be of use to the rest of the group. After all, they had been finding all sorts of trinkets and trifling objects around the way. Bunch of bloody packrats... she thought to herself, noting the growing tendency of the group. Really, she could not remember carrying any more than she needed to, but it seemed as though her habits had been changed as they looted their prey.

    No sense in leaving shit behind, though... she thought, in a silent acknowledgement of the freshly-felled demons. Helena was not one for graverobbing, and looting a human corpse seemed almost sickening to her... though here she was, with Nanila's crystal ball tied to her hip. She leaned in closer, still amazed at the craftsmanship, but more pissed off that something - or someone - had been allowed to infiltrate the castle. The guards were nothing more than corrupt weaklings who did not even have the spine to speak up... or perhaps they were corrupted by another manner. Helena wondered just how deeply woven the mystery of the Chaos Knight's turning had been... but wondering would not have to last much longer. Key in hand from the gargoyle statue, Helena stood up, a determined look on her face, though her red eyes betrayed a slight nervousness. "I've got it." All that needed to be stated as her eyes darted from the silver key, slightly tarnished, to Alexandra, who beckoned her to pass the key. Helena nodded impassively, readily relinquishing her findings to the one who was most anxious to proceed forward...

    The door opened with no further ceremony than a slight, satisfying click as the young noble strode forward into the dimly-lit storage room, and out of sight of the rest of the group for mere moments. Helena looked to her remaining allies, gaze lingering on Kat who seemed confident, but not in a cocky sense. It reassured the archer slightly, but the expression seemed also to be hiding something... something underlying, a whole new mystery to conquer. But that would have to wait for another time...

    Should our paths cross again...

    She followed the rest of the party through the door. The room that it revealed was hardly grandiose - a fittingly dank room for a powerful magic to be put on display. But Helena's eyes had not yet adjusted to the dark, and they stung from a putrid scent of decay and pure darkness... the source of which she could not yet scope out. She took a few steps further into the room, out of the comforting light of the undercroft...

    'Pulse.'

    What could only be described as the beating of a heart could be heard, audibly. A throbbing noise that slowed her heart, causing it to stop entirely for a moment. Helena grew wide-eyed as she noticed that it was not simply her own pulse growing quicker, as a second heartbeat was audible to her. Not her own... her eyes began to adjust. Finally, as she stepped in a mesmerized trance towards the source that simply continued pulsing. An endless rhythm, played out in the depths of the unending darkness.

    'Pump.'

    Lub-dub. Lub-dub. Lub-dub. The repetitiousness of it all entering a rising crescendo that filled Helena's mind. The source of the evil in the castle... it had been reached. Archaea's corrupted, demon-infested hive of activity - the castle itself. What could only be described as the heart of the city. Fittingly, as Helena saw as she approached the wooden, slightly-raised stage, the endlessly teeming corruption of the city took the form of a mass of fleshy, purple shadows, melded into the shallow reflection of a human heart. It was ingrained into the walls, pumping its influence throughout the city. The guards. The king. The magistrate. It all made sense to her now, as she stared up at the demonic mass.

    'Fuel.'

    The glyph's meaning finally made sense. A foreshadowing of what they were to encounter beyond its room. Almost a warning sign, too conveniently placed to have been unintentional. The proximity of the magic did not matter - it had been placed surreptitiously in the undercroft so as not to be put on proud display... but to those who would come searching, it served as a final warning. A sign of a resting-place-to-be...

    And the trance was broken. All that Helena could utter was an obscenity. "Holy everloving fuck." Her bow was in her hand in a mere instant. The formalities could wait until after the battle. There was no time for casual banter now, as the focal point of the room would consume the attention of all of them. The Night Huntress brushed her black hair from her face, as a final sign of preparation. Teeth grit, all she could think about were scenarios... few of which ended in their immediate favour. Words escaped her. Nothing more could be said. A rare occurrence for the sharp-tongued woman with her equally-pointed arrows, but one that had happened upon her in the heat of the moment as she stared at what she was sent to destroy. Writhing. Tendrils. Shadows. Evil.

    Shit. Just... shit.
     
  15. Cacophony manifested into a utter, horrific abomination. The Lumiere Skillblade came to a screeching halt as she stared at the entwined veins pulsing, pumping, fueling... The glyph...! the thought was swift to pierce her stupor as she immediately deciphered what had been going on the entire time. The source of the corruption which had slowly taken residence over the castle was right before them, before her, in grotesque majesty. Absolute Eye was in her strong hand almost immediately, eyes fixated with the massive organ spreading its truly palpable, wretched essence throughout the web of black and purple which composed it. The Shadow Heart palpitated.

    And her own heart did too, in an almost synchronized manner, as adrenaline quickly fueled her body as her own subconscious response for fight or flight. And she was most certainly here to fight. "We destroy that thing." It was not going to be easy in the slightest, she could tell.


    Hikari starts at E6.
     
  16. Chapter 02-F: Truth

    Location: Archaea Castle - Storage Room

    Objective: Destroy the Shadow Heart!

    Background: ~Tantamount to Purification~

    {w} {w} {S} {S} {S} {S} {w} {w} {w} A
    {w} {s} {S} {S} {S} {S} {s} { } {w} B
    {w} {s} {S} {S} {S} {S} {s} { } {w} C
    {w} { } { } { } { } { } { } { } {w} D
    {w} { } {M} { } {A} {I} { } { } {w} E
    {w} { } { } {K} { } { } { } {S} {w} F
    {w} { } { } { } { } { } { } { } {w} G
    {w} { } { } { } { } {H} { } { } {w} H
    {w} { } { } { } { } { } { } { } {w} I
    {w} {w} {w} {w} {X} {w} {w} {w} {w} J
    -1---2---3---4---5---6---7---8---9


    Alexandra (Blue Mage)
    HP: 40/40
    MP: 35/35
    DD: 8/10
    Atk: 17
    Def: 7
    Int: 10
    Spr: 9
    Evade: 10%
    Move: 3 cells

    Kat (Arrow Sage) *ARCANE ESSENCE [7]*
    HP: 40/40
    MP: 50/50
    DD: 10/10
    Atk: 2
    Def: 9
    Int: 15
    Spr: 13
    Evade: 8%
    Move: 3 cells

    Helena (Night Huntress)
    HP: 50/50
    MP: 50/50
    DD: 7/10
    Atk: 16
    Def: 9
    Int: 2
    Spr: 8
    Evade: 16%
    Move: 4 cells

    Mai (Dragon Warrior) *HASTE*
    HP: 55/55
    MP: 60/60
    DD: 0/10
    Atk: 17
    Def: 7
    Int: 5
    Spr: 6
    Evade: 5%
    Move: 3 cells

    Strytor (Kitsune)
    HP: 35/35
    MP: 45/45
    DD: 3/10
    Atk: 1
    Def: 7
    Int: 12
    Spr: 6
    Evade: 4%
    Move: 3 cells

    Hikari (Lumiere Skillblade)
    HP: 50/50
    MP: 50/50
    DD: 10/10
    Atk: 15
    Def: 12
    Int: 13
    Spr: 7
    Evade: 7%
    Move: 3 cells

    Shadow Heart
    HP: 1200/1200
    MP: 875/875
    DD: 0/10
    Atk: 14
    Def: 7
    Int: 16
    Spr: 8
    Evade: 3%
    Move: 0 cells

    {X} - Storage Room Door (cannot be occupied)

    {w} - Wall Lined With Junk (cannot be occupied)

    {s} - Stage (cannot be occupied)

    Player Phase 1!

    Alexandra uses Libra on Shadow Heart! [Reveals detailed information on target]

    MP: 23/35

    "Let us start."  Alexandra swiped the air with her saber causing a slight gale to swirl about her, a glowing, light blue glyph appearing on the stone floor beneath her.  Her eyes began to glow the same color as she gazed at the giant beating abomination before her with something akin to omniscience, if only for a moment.  She nearly recoiled as the information surged into her mind, random tidbits and significant things to note.  It was almost too much for her to handle.  H-how do I know what to take and what to let go?! her own thoughts shouted amidst the vast expanse of information flooding through her mind.  This was probably a horrible time for this to be the first use of this ability.  The blue mages were well-known for knowing their enemies better than their enemies knew themselves; it's what they pride themselves on, but how on earth do they pull it off?  Afraid of losing her hold on the ability, Alexandra began remembering things that she thought would be pivotal to their success in this particular battle.  Weaknesses and vulnerabilities were the key things she reached for at the moment.  She hoped to garner more when she became more adept at using the ability.

    Libra...  The glyph beneath Alexandra began to flicker as a dying light bulb does, and the radiance shrouding her eyes dimmed as well, the ability wearing away.  There was an odd lingering weakness that wracked Alexandra's body.  She wondered if she had tried to learn too much in one go, but decided it was best not to worry over such trivial things.  She knew that she would be strong enough to carry on, launching into an assault of her own.  In retrospect, she was the one usually just leaping into the fray, but this battle took a bit of extra care, or so she thought.  What she discovered would only aid them all in the long run.  It was just a quick sorting away.

    Alexandra waits.


    Kat uses Pierce Time on Shadow Heart! [Persistent damage set into motion]

    MP: 38/50

    Kat smirked and aimed her bow in a random direction, conjuring an arrow out of neutralized mana.  "Destroy it, we shall," the arrow sage spoke firmly and confidently as she shot the arrow into nothing but empty airspace, which would seem odd at first glance, but the air the projectile traveled through began to distort, a vortex opening to receive the arrow which promptly disappeared, the air returning to normal.  The power of mana coursed through her veins and danced lightly upon her skin.  Never before had she ever experienced such control over it.  It was empowering and invigorating.  This is the reward for our struggles--newly found strength, she thought, her face a portrait of determination.  The sorrows were pushed to the back of her mind, for if she let herself get weighed down by naught but possibilities, it would be the end for not only her, but her allies as well.  When and if the time arises that I must face some truth that is too much for me, at least I know that I won't be alone... she spared a single thought, and she laughed in her head, for with that single thought, she felt like crying.  How could she be the image of radiant power and control with teary eyes?  Lowering her bow, she smacked one of her cheeks lightly a few times to try and snap out of it which worked.  Hopefully the others wouldn't read into it much except for her just trying to maintain focus for the sake of this tough battle.

    Can't have them worrying about me, Kat thought, her grip on her bow tightening immensely such that her knuckles turned white as snow.  Even though...  Restocasia.  She remembered that she had no one there, really, except for...him.  The damn prophecy.  What did it mean that their reunion would not be a cheerful one?  No, that wasn't a good question, for she already knew the answer.  She knew the answer to this entire mystery.  Lucian is behind this.  Somehow.  Maybe not directly, but...I have a feeling...  Shoving those thoughts back, her mind became clear once more, her visage still radiating confidence since she had regained her composure.  Those demons would be faced when the time was right.

    Kat waits.
     
  17. Mai's grip on her blade tightened immediately upon seeing the others tense to destroy this beating mass of evil. She could feel with every pulsation of its inner chambers the very energy it was pumping, almost feeling the darkness choke her. Even if there wasn't quite a smell to it, she could very well breathe in its essence of wickedness. It made her sick beyond anything. One thing was to go against those who have been warped, and another completely to go against the one who was behind all of it. It was, indeed, something to go against the heart of evil.

    Mai took in a breath, calling another silent thought of prayer to the power she asked to obtain once again, to receive any kind of aid possible. She had been taught to ask for the lingering soul of those legendary beasts when in jeopardy, and she hoped this was a time she could receive any offer of help.

    "I am here," a voice echoed about her mind, like a ripple across water. Mai swiftly pulled her eyes open, not even noticing she had closed them. The searing energy she usually possessed was swirling around her in a graceful blue pillar, which dissipated above her head as if evaporating. However, she felt none of the energy leave her, perhaps cycling back. She could also feel something else- a second entity, next to her. Her gaze then shifted automatically to her side, quickly analyzing where this feeling was coming from. Surely enough, hidden in the swirling energy, she could make out something.... a face. However, it was nothing human; the large snout, the detail to scales, the slits for pupils, they all screamed what she had asked for. With a smile wider than any other she'd ever felt, she focused back toward the beating mass of evil before her. I need your aid to defeat the obvious abomination before me, as you can see yourself, she mentally portrayed, hoping it was how these spirits spoke. Surely enough, she felt a confirmatory feeling pulse from this entity beside her, sending a warm burning feeling about her body. For this one moment, she relished in what at the temple everyone was attempting to achieve; to fight alongside the legendary reptiles. The glee on Mai's face turned into one of proud achievement. Just wait to see those bastards from home think of me now.

    With a readying strike through the air, she prepared what would ultimately be the final battle in this castle, if not the most pivotal.

    --------------------------------------------

    Mai uses Hidden Power! 50% ATK boost for 5 turns!
    ATK: 17 -- > 26
    [MP: 50/60]

    Mai uses Spirit Strike! Permits the use of (2) Basic Attacks with (1) Act Command for 2 turns!
    [MP: 44/60]

    Mai moves to D4! (D3, D4)

    Mai waits...
     
  18. Stry took a breath, glancing toward his allies who were making their own preparations for battle. Preparations much needed, the Kitsune guessed, if they were to take out the monster before them. Black ears perked forward to the pulsing of the heart, pumping what Stry could only guess at through the castle like an animal's heart pumps blood through the body. It almost raised the question of whether this heart was just fueling the apparent corruption that his allies had mentioned, or if it was the lifeblood of something greater...

    "And when blood becomes poisoned..." Stry muttered aloud, before releasing a sharp exhale which sounded like a mix of a snort and a laugh. "Well, whatever. Guess the only point is this thing has to be destroyed." He raised his slightly clawed hand, pale blue wisps dancing at the tips of the sharp nails-- but instead of attacking the Shadow Heart, he instead cast the wisps at his allies. Instead of striking and doing damage, they swirled, hovered, danced around each of them as they prepared to fight. Preparations that would take energy. Energy that would be renewed.

    [Strytor casts Onibii! Bestows MP Regeneration to all allies.
    MP: 21/45

    Strytor waits.]
     
  19. Hikari moves to D7 (E6 - D6 - D7).


    Despite fully capable of closing in on the mammoth, darkened organ, Hikari quickly decided against it. Despite remaining completely inert aside from the repetitious palpitations inducing spasmodic, nearly erratic movements in it... there was, in reality, not even the faintest trace of a safety label in what they were about to do... or rather, doing. What if the thing, the Shadow Heart, reacted against their attempts to destroy it? It was perhaps due to this everyone else was preparing themselves for another battle, as it was a probable outcome nevertheless. The Lumiere Skillblade, for this reason, opted to prepare as well. She cautiously sided against the nearly nonexistent, unoccupied space of the sculpted stage, and focused. Not on the bizarre creation before her, not on a particular line of a spell, but on a concept. Light momentarily flickered around her hands, as if reacting to her will...


    Hikari prepares Brightest Blade.
     
  20. {Helena uses Eagle's Eye on self (H6)! Critical Hit Ratio increased by 25%! ATK increased by 10%! (3 Turns)}
    <MP: 40/50>
    {Helena waits...}


    As her vision grew accustomed to the dull, unlit storage room, so too did her nerve. She began to settle down, and though her heart pulsed at double the rate of the shadowed equivalent that stood on horrific display before the group, she felt herself gradually preparing to eliminate the kingdom's biggest threat. Though she was not at all in favour of the present King, she knew that the Chaos Knight was being puppeteered by something - or someone. And such a person would have to be in possession of some bloody potent magic in order to conjure up such an abomination as the mass of purple-tinted flesh. A mockery. A demonic mockery of the very thing that kept humanity intact, placed in the heart of the castle, in the heart of Archaea. Though Helena's nerves were in the process of being stabilized, she couldn't help but feel a retching feeling. Both at the very thought of the evil before her, and the putrid smell of the room. The overpowering stench of death, decay, rotting flesh.

    But though it made her eyes water, her veins coursed with adrenaline. Laced her with power that she knew she had, but did not often wish to tap into. Easy, Helena... you can do this. She mentally tried to assuage her own wandering thoughts. She knew not what capabilities the fleshy mass had been imbued with - surely it had taken a powerful type of magic to get it hear in the first place, and it would not be left unguarded... not if this plan was so elaborate as to involve so many facets... so many plans and precautions left to guard the secrets of a seemingly inconspicuous storage room. But all had been a foreshadowing of the events to come, and it still hurt Helena to think that they had possibly been put onto this course by the man she had trusted to give them guidance beyond a voice in her head. The back of her mind, urging her forward...

    Helena sighed. There was no guiding voice anymore. Had she just imagined the whole thing...? One thing was for certain, however... she was not about to be the first to lash out on the monstrous, twisted organ. And from the looks of things, her companions did not seem to wish to be either. Alexandra seemed to be struggling to control some sort of glyph that had appeared and vanished at her feet. Kat seemed to be readying herself for the coming fray, though Helena could not see any of the expression written on her face. Hikari was gathering some sort of Light Mana to her weapon... something Helena found intelligent, considering the circumstances. Stry had allowed more of his foxboy magic to be let loose - 'bout bloody time. - and dance around her. Helena glanced apprehensively at the flickering firelight before realizing that it actually helped her see... helped her boost her control of her Mana Cycle. It pained her to do so, but she nodded solemnly at Stry. Maybe I won't have to shoot him through this battle. Maybe.

    The only one bold enough to tackle the task at hand head-on was Mai, the Dragon Warrior. Helena almost stepped back in shock. She gaped at the girl's bravery... or perhaps her stupidity. The Night Huntress feared to step forward, and so, silently, she lurked behind the front lines, preparing herself for the fight ahead like the rest of her companions in front of her. Mana was immediately channeled to her eyesight, as before with the demons. She felt her sight sharpen, and vision grow ever more strong as she could now see the scope of the room... and what she saw did not appeal to her stomach.

    "Let's get this over with... sooner than later."
     

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