Lord of Azure Flame Chapter 22: The Hunt

[Phoenix]

ENEMY PHASE

With a quick and oozing heave Helenos belched Pary back up from her stomach revealing a slimy staggering undead former ally, moaning and groaning.

Zombie!Pary

HP: 9 Str: 1 Mag: 0 Skl: 4 Spd: 4 Lck: -2 Def: 1 Res: 4

Skills:

Memories: Keeps saying "Bandit" among other various things.

Newly Dead: Too stupid to attack anything on EP.

Vantage

Prayer

Hostage D attacks Alex. Rolls 6,5,5

http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/2818093

HIT 12 vs Evade 5 = CRITICAL HIT

DMG 11 vs DEF 5 = -12 hp and Alex KO

Helenos attacks Conrad. Rolls 2,5,4

http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/2818091/

Conrad KO!

PLAYER PHASE

Viveka attacks Guard B. Rolls 5,2,1

http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/2818094/

HIT 10 vs Evade 0 = HIT

DMG 6 vs DEF 6 = Tink

Guard B rolls 6,1,6

http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/2818095/

HIT 12 vs Evade 8 = HIT and KO

Viv 0/12

Guard B 6/15

Irina attacks Helenos again ... nuts. Rolls 6,6,6

http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/2818096/

HIT 11 vs Evade 7 = CRITICAL HIT

DMG 14 vs DEF 7 = -14 hp

Edwards dies!

Helenos rolls 5,2,3

http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/2818097/

HIT 11 vs Evade 5 = HIT

DMG 14 vs DEF 8 = -6 hp

Irina 7/18

Helenos 15/27

+10 exp

[Script]

Luc Altair

How much longer could this go on? If the next exchange wasn't decisive Luc would make sure the one after was. Luc clashed and failed once again to inflict considerable injury on his foe. Dammit.

Luc looked around. The group was neatly devastated even by the reduced number of foes they had faced. He should have done more, at least, tried to give direction. But he had to at least try now. "Fargo!" he called out to his subordinate.

"Haha, yes sir?" the cowardly cavalier crawled out from under the carriage.

"Take whomever you can drag and escape!"

"But the gates are blocked!"

"Do everything in your power to retreat!" Luc commanded and rode back into battle.

"Dammit, that's impossible..."

"Everyone rally and retreat! We cannot win at this rate!" Luc shouted. It was stupid to do so in hearing of the demon dragon. But, what choice did he have?

A Paul

They had attempted some sort of primitive fleeing mechanism next. But really, they were sluggards and Paul was twenty time champion of the Directus foot race. (Three years before Directus was founded too!) Or something like that. The fleet-footed champion gave chase, easily picking off the smaller, weaker prey.

Luc stat shifts 2 Res to 2 Def. (2 Res, 8 Def.)

Luc has 12/15 HP.

Luc attacks Lich A.

(Luc rolls 2,1,5)

Luc attacks and deals 0 damage. ((1Roll+5Str-8Def) = 0 Damage.)

Lich A has 7/12 HP.

(Lich A rolls 5,3,2)

Lich A deals damage. ((3Roll+4Str-8Def) = 0 Damage)

Luc has 12/15 HP.

(Lich A has 7/12 HP.)

Luc earns 5 EXP.

[Mercakete]

Beau again aimed a burst of healing at the woman wyvern rider.

Beau heals Irina for 6HP

Irina 13/18

Beau 9/9

Beau +8exp

[Snike]

Despair

Viveka fell from her pegasi, prompting Derek to dive for her. Thoroughly distracted, the cavalier retreated for the time being. It looked hopeless...

Alex never saw the club coming. She was out before she hit the ground, seriously injured to say the least.

Hero's Might

As he saw many of the group fall, the man once known as Reaper grew frustrated. Enough was enough. It was time to take that rot dragon out. After tearing off his cloak, the Hero drew his axe. With a mighty swing, Jace landed a solid hit on the rot dragon, drawing it's attention.

"Over here," he said, tossing his axe up in the air just as Helenos attacked him. As he leaped into the air, avoiding the outstretched claw, the Brute smote the dragon, leaving it with an injury it would not forget for a long while.

Reinforcements

Jace

HP: 30

ATK: 12

HIT: 8

AS/Evasion: 8

DEF: 8

RES: 6

Class: Brute (Custom Hero)

Skills: WTM (Bows) Heroic Stand, Aether

Heroic Stand! +2MT, Hit, +1 Evade!

[6,5,4,12] = 19-9 = 10 Points of damage!

[1,2,1,3] = Miss!

[4,1,1,4] = Critical! 2(15-9) = 12 Points of damage! Helenos is defeated!

HS - 2 HP

Jace 28/30

Helenos 0/27 HP

Edited December 28, 2010 by Snike

[Script]

Luc Altair

"Impossible..." The Count of Directus stared in awe at the power of the now revealed Jace.

Paul Ex Machina

There was only a single tiny runner left. Its four paws beat against the scorching pavement running away from its pursuer.

It was no use.

The top spy of Directus charged up to the roof tops and jumped unto the back of the beast. His knives dug deep and with one pathetic squeal it dropped as dead as whatever it was.

"Ah, nothing like a little kill-jog to get the blood flowing!" Paul shouted, unaware he had been led right into the central fight. "Well," the spy said as it dawned on him. "Ain't that a ticker."

Reinforcements

Paul

HP: 2 STR: 6 MAG: 0 SKL: 6 SPD: 8 Luck: 6 Def: 0 Res: 0

Simplified stats: HP: 6 STR: 6(5dagger) Hit: 6 Evade: 11(12.5dagger) DEF/RES: 0/0

Skills: Lethality, (Others Hidden until activation)

The spy struck at the closest foe. His quick attack taking the doggy thing with such speed it had no chance to counter or flee.

Paul attacks Lich Hound C (Paul cannot be hit) (6,5,1) (4,2,1)

Edited December 27, 2011 by Script

[Inactive Account]

Tanair got up. The battle had started out promisingly, but the humans had begun to drop like flies. She should have expected as much. Nevertheless, Helenos was hurt, and apparently on fire. The unnatural blue flames that had sprung up-- no doubt Helenos' doing-- were threatening to consume the city, and the party within it. She leapt into the air, transforming, and spread her wings, flying for the city.

Each flap of her wings as she flew overhead sent a magic-laden gust of wind to the flames below. The fires began to go out, though the damaged buildings still crumbled and fell. She circled around the fight, extinguishing the flames that threatened the little humans, many of whom were barely alive. Instead of landing on the ground, she dove at Helenos, talons out, and lifted the smaller dragon from the ground, slamming her into a building a few blocks away.

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

Amari struggled to remain standing as the fight continued. The leg that wouldn't support her weight dragged, and she could only sort of hop around and watch powerlessly as the Boy, then Kelas, then the red man fell. The Boy was closest by; painfully she made her way over to him. He was pale, but not bleeding much, apart from a trickle of blood from his mouth. His middle seemed a bit misshapen; squashed, sort of. Could the healers fix it? She whinnied for help, then started towards Kelas. From where she stood she could see the huge claw-rents in her rider's back... the healers weren't doing anything, and she couldn't walk... Amari let herself fall to the ground, she was done unless someone helped. Even the dragon failed to interest her as she waited to black out.

[Script]

Paul Ex Machina

"Now that's how you do things!" Paul squealed in glee as he watched the big'un get smashed. "Oh man, don't that just bring a tear to your eyes blokes?" Paul looked to his fellows, and saw he was 25 years out of date. "Oh, right, time haha." Paul casually tossed and killed another hound-doggy as he marveled at the kill-power of Jace. "I'm almost a bit envious."

(Paul cannot be hit) (5,4,2) (2,6,3)

[-Cynthia-]

As the bodies fell around her, the dragon before them seemed to be the end of them all. A lone figure with an axe came out of nowhere and attacked the dragon. It was...Jace? Of all the people to come here. Something snapped within Charlotte. All the killing, Dani losing her memory, Eric's betrayal, the deaths of her parents and countrymen...it all had to stop. Right here and now. Charlotte found a newfound power swell up within her, a force of light she had never experienced before. She took out her Lightning tome and fired a large light blast into the man. "Die!" she shouted at him.

[Script]

Luc Altair

A dragon now. Swooping down, stopping all the flames Luc had largely ignored, the beast grabbed their vanquished foe and added further conditions upon defeat. This was... all he had ever wanted. So why did it all feel so.. off?

Paul Ex Machina

And now a real live dragon! This was almost as good a show as sexy time or killy time! Speaking of killy time, Paul walked over and tore another little innocent dog-thing to pieces. Bloody pieces haha!

(Paul cannot be hit) (6,1,5) (2,1,2)(2,6,1)

And.. hoho! Looks like the pretty pretty princess grew a sturdy sturdy spine. Bout to be chopped in half though. "Do it! Show that big hunk of man meat who's the boss!" he cheered.

[Snike]

Well...

"It appears that we have a big ally," Jace noted, casually cutting down three lichs as he watched the dragons fight. The fiery rooftops faded, likely a result of magic, he noted, before he felt a bit of pain, coming from behind him. The Brute turned around to see the princess of Jerdon, shouting, "Die!" while casting a lightning tome.

"... Princess Charlotte, shouldn't you be healing your escort?" he asked, just as an arrow bounced off of his armor.

[Phoenix]

Surrounded By Flames

Altenau was quickly going up in flames and Jasmine could only stay back as the fight went down hill. It soon occurred to her that she could at least help out the wounded and so she began searching through the heatwave that was barring down on them. As Helenos took another devastating hit from the Brute himself, Lev put the shields back over Krinkov covering up the hatchling and the eggs while he rushed over to the injured. He grimaced at the site of Morgan and Iso down close by. Irina showed up too and quickly gathered up Iso who was still partly conscious.

Iso: G-get ... Kelas and Arrin ... don't leave them.

Irina: I won't but you're my first priority, Iso. Come on, I need you up on Kiev right now.

She helped her brother up while Lev hauled Morgan into his arms and placed her in the saddle yet again. Patting her on the shoulder not knowing if she was conscious not, he sighed.

Lev: Funny how I know how much you weigh now ... try to be more careful, would you?

Suddenly he spun around hearing the hostage approach!

Lev: ... shit ...

Woman: P-please help, me ... *gasp*

Suddenly the rot armor fell from her body! In surprise she nearly dropped her child but Lev and her caught the child together. She let out a sigh of relief as she began crying. Lev sighed again himself and then motioned her over to Krinkov who glared at the woman. No longer an enemy or not, she was an extra hundred pounds of weight he didn't want to have to deal with.

Once Irina got Iso on Kiev, she hurried over to Kelas and checked her for her injuries. She wasn't sure a vulnerary would do any good at that point, but applied one anyway, and then quickly approached Arrin doing the same. She couldn't well carry both of them, but Lev quickly arrive and picked up Kelas while she took up Arrin.

Irina: This is bad.

Lev: Just stay calm and ... whoa.

In the middle of Lev's statement, the dragon from the graveyard swooped in and attacked Helenos, relocating the foe elsewhere and clearing away some of the flames!

Irina: ... who ... isn't that ...

Lev: You know that dragon?

Irina: That dragon showed up when we were in Halton!

When Helenos came sliding down the side of a crumbling building she shook herself off in anger!

Helenos: Nooo nooo NOOOOO!!! I had them!!!

She quickly peeled out the remains of Edwards and chucked him away snorting as his body bounced, tumbled, and slid across the road.

Helenos: Useless.

Looking back to her threatening sister, she immediately hissed out!

Helenos: Why must you thwart me at every turn, why must you all thwart me at every turn?! This isn't over.

Quickly standing up, she batted her wings taking off in an attempt to escape the burning city. Meanwhile the eagle in the sky watched curiously. The battle hadn't gone as expected, but the results were ... still pleasing to the eagle, signified by an otherwise impossible grin that appeared on its shifting face. Once Lev brought Kelas over to the gathering of the mangled, he saw Pary staggering toward him.

Pary: Baaaaandiiit.

Lev: ... huh.

[Script]

Luc Altair

Luc broke free from the mesmerized sight of the two dragons and focused his attention back on mortal matters. Everyone was injured and Paul was out and--Paul was out!? He was standing just so casually it had taken Luc a few seconds to register his appearance. Things... were truly that awful.

And they got worse. Charlotte had decided to take her revenge on Jace right here, right now. By whatever reason--too lowly, perhaps?-- the Brute did not respond with the violence Luc would have expected. But still, he kicked Thunder into a gallop and positioned himself between the opposing leaders.

Paul Ex Machina

"Aw phooey, I wanted to stab those guys!" Paul pointlessly complained. "But, eh well, dem's the breaks." Paul plopped down to watch the inevitable bloodbath.

[-Cynthia-]

"Don't you dare tell me what to do." Charlotte spat contemptously in Jace's direction. "You took everything from me, my home, my family, my people. Then demons and bandits took all of what I had left. I have no more reason to live, and you would take even my death from me. May the Goddess have mercy on your soul Brute, because I certainly don't have any." she said to him, firing off another blast at him.

Tristan surveyed what remained of the battlefield. Jace had arrived on the scene and saved the day it seemed. Tristan briefly considered asking Jace about the whereabouts of his parents, but he figured as Jace was the leader of the rebels he was not a very reliable source of information. He scooped up Alex and began to fly away on Bellerophon. No telling what Jace would do to her if he knew what she was up to. he thought to himself.

Edited December 28, 2010 by -Cynthia-

[Inactive Account]

"It won't be over until you're gone," Tanair told Helenos quietly. "I'll be following."

She returned her attention to the city. One last scurrying minion of Helenos' was running about: she stepped on it, crushing it. The air around the group began to clear as the flames near them continued to be doused, and for a moment Tanair reverted to her humanoid form to speak with them.

"You have wounded. I will make space for you to deal with them, and I will clear you a path to get out. It was a good attempt, even if my sister was too powerful," she told the group, then backed up and launched herself into the air again, transforming to fly over the city, spiralling outward to put out the flames. "Don't move too quickly," she added, "this will take me a little while."

[Snike]

Argument

"So he was... Well, that explains something," Jace said, remembering the princess's retainer from the reports, who was absent from the battlefield. "Look, your friends are dying. Do you want to kill me, or do you want to heal them? I am not really in the mood to deal with your anger. My daughter nearly died today, and I am quite worried about the company she's keeping," he continued, gesturing to the departing pegasi. To Luc, he said, "You may want to move aside. You may be struck by the lightning spells.

"... Thank you, Miss Dragon," the hero finished, upon hearing the dragon's decision to aid the general group.

[Script]

Luc Altair

"I..." Luc choked out as the conversation between the two grew more heated. Was there anything he could say? Anything he should say? Even the odd mention of Jace's daughter didn't relieve Luc of the downfallen feelings plaguing him. "I.." he said again. What.. should he do? "Am.. fine here." That was all he could do. The words of the dragon filtered through, not raising any indications on Luc's thoughts.

Paul Ex Machina

"My, my, isn't he being nice," Paul quietly said to his buddies. Oh wait... "Ah, right, not alive. Why do I always forget that? Ah well. The real question is, what ebil ploy does he have planned?"

Wait, ebil?

[-Cynthia-]

Jace hardly seemed phased by her attack and Luc stood in between them. Charlotte began to calm down. "I would prefer to do both, but unfortunately it appears that I can only accomplish one at this time. But mark my words Brute, the Goddess will deliver justice upon you for the horrible atrocities you have committed. Your actions here will not redeem you." She turned around and walked away from Jace to where Kelas's horse had collapsed and started healing the nomad woman.

Morgan woke up groggily to the sound of Lev's voice. "Yes well, had our group been a little more proactive in attacking the hostages I would have been in less danger." She looked towards the scene of the battle. "The dragon from the graveyard, hmm? She did show interest when we mentioned Helenos before, these two may have some history. We are fortunate that Helenos has other enemies, outside interference has saved us once again. Perhaps we can coordinate with this creature, we do share a common foe after all."

[Phoenix]

Stuff

Lev: Right, the hostages ... speaking of which there is a survivor ...

He gestured to the woman trying to find room on Krinkov's saddle to sit. She was wary of Morgan though, holding back some choice words due to the severity of the situation.

Lev: Well I guess all worked out in the end. So you do know that dragon? Frankly we could use all the help we can get. That Helenos is no joke. How the hell did you people manage to survive the first time?

Once Charlotte healed Kelas, Irina waved to her hoping to draw her over to Arrin who was still pretty bad off. Isotov ignored his own injuries and stumbled off of Kiev. Proxima had stopped his bleeding, but the physical injuries were still there and he was literally crawling his way over to Kelas before sitting down panting loudly.

Iso: Okay ...

[Mercakete]

Beau was putting his staff to work more sparingly than the times before. He would allow Tessa and Charlotte to help with the healing. Besides caution, there were other reasons for his lack of activity. The foremost of which was his trying to wrap his mind around all that was happening: Jace the Brute showing up, mention of his daughter, Charlotte suddenly attacking the man, the two dragons and how casual everyone was about the situation. The young heir wasn't entirely sure what to think. However, there was one thing his mind kept going back to which he could not help but smile at: his eyes shifted from time to time to the shattered and splattered mess that was once Pary. It was wicked to think so, but Beau could not help but think with satisfaction that the man finally appeared on the outside as Beau had always seen him.

[-Cynthia-]

"Last time demons who I believe were in service to the Lord of Azure Flame attacked her as she nearly killed us. Helenos and the Lord are both apparently seeking the weapons. It makes enough sense, why would a powerful demon choose servitude over gaining more power for herself, and hence liberation? It works out well enough in our favor, we may be able to use the conflict between these forces to our advantage."

"You were there when we met the earth dragon in the graveyard, yes? She is a keeper of the land, probably very old. Helenos's power destroys the land, making these two dragons natural enemies. Considering the damage that the Lord of Azure Flame caused the last time I doubt she is an ally of his either. An enemy of our enemies is at least a potential ally, yes? Once she finishes cleansing the city we should perhaps have a talk." Morgan said to Lev, giving a cursory glance at the woman.

Charlotte saw Irina wave, went over and applied her staff to Arrin. She dropped to her knees and stopped for a bit, panting. So many wounded...I really have to let Jace go this time. she thought bitterly to herself.

[Phoenix]

More Stuff

Lev: Before? Ah wait you mean at the graveyard! The same dragon? Huh.

Listening to Morgan's explanation, grinned a bit.

Lev: These situation isn't such a tactical nightmare after all. Enemies spread out on multiple fronts are doomed to failure from the start. I suppose we'll have that talk soon, but for now, you just stay put on that wyvern. You've done enough for today.

Woman: She certainly has ... heartless witch ...

Lev: Oiiiigh. These isn't the time for that. Look, I need to make sure no one else is dead or dying. We already had a casualty as it stands. I'll be back soon.

With that the wyvern lord set off making certain no one would be left to succumb to their wounds having not been noticed. Once Charlotte healed Arrin, she carefully brought him over to the carriage aiming to place him safely inside it. Iso stayed by Kelas panting heavily.

[Mercakete]

Beau applied his staff to the fire sage, seeing as the man wasn't in the best of conditions. It didn't take too much energy and he was healing slowly so as to pace himself and tire out les easily. Though he felt more comfortable talking with the person while he healed them -- unless he absolutely needed to concentrate -- the young heir had no idea what to talk about. He was still too stunned with the enormity of all the events playing out. Finally, he uttered, "We should have died." Shaking his head slowly, he played through the events in his mind. Then he added, remembering how many times the man had nearly been killed, "Especially you."

[Inactive Account]

"We're really good at almost dying and then not," Kelas mumbled, stirring. She couldn't see her wounds, but she could tell they were healed, though they still hurt. With a bit of difficulty she propped herself up on her elbows in order to see better what was going on. "You're okay... Arrin... Charlotte's got Arrin... is that... oh gods, Amari," she mumbled, attempting to get up.

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

Things still weren't cooperating and going dim for Amari. The fires were going out; the strange great one had saved them. Maybe... She struggled to her feet again, dragging her broken leg. There... was Kelas alive? They'd healed her! Amari began the painful three-legged trek to her rider, quickly regaining the will to fight off whatever assailed Kelas, even if she was hurt.

[Mercakete]

"The horse, too? Goodness, this stubbornness has no place on the battlefield once the battle is done..." sighed Beau, not even realizing that he'd spoken aloud. He wasn't sure what to think at the moment, but he knew when people should not be straining their bodies. "Kelas, if that's your horse, then please have the both of you hold still. I'll return to you when I've finished here, but I only want to heal what wounds you recieved in the fight: nothing new or worsened. In other words, if you strain yourself, you'll wind up straining me so please just keep still," Beau mentioned. He sounded - oddly enough - more calm and down-to-earth than usual. He also sounded tired, though he didn't feel it. It was more of a sighing mood: sorry about and shrugging off things he didn't want to figure out right then. He was also notably gentler and even compassionate. However, it would be fairly unnoticable unless you heard him while he was trying to heal.

[Inactive Account]

"Someone got me, I'm gonna be all right, but I better hold her so she'll stay still," Kelas informed Beau. She tottered over to Amari, holding the mare's head. "<Easy, girl, we're going to fix it,>" she said softly, trying to keep Amari calm enough to hold still. She wasn't sure how long standing up was going to work out for her. "<Gods, I'm sorry...>"

Kelas was acting strangely. She was alive, so Amari could ignore the hurting, but it also gave the mare a little room to worry about herself: what was going to happen? She couldn't walk. She trusted Kelas... Kelas could fix it... right?