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Post by Shaa Rhunn on Oct 20, 2022 11:43:06 GMT -5
Description: A group of four mages have managed to break into the grounds and have just summoned a massive monster (any creature with a medium or high danger level) You are being asked to head off these mages, take them out and deal with whatever the creature they summoned is. Not only do you need to defeat the enemies, but you must try to protect as much of the school as you can, keeping it and its students from being destroyed in the process.
As Shaa entered the academy having recently defeated the Terramancer in the yard, he looked around for his companions. He found several students who were recovering from injuries and according to them, there was still fighting going on. He was grateful to hear that casualties had been relatively low.
Shaa continued to search around for signs of Gerhart and Karize. Signs of battle were everywhere so it was difficult to find anything definitive. As he searched, he thought he saw a cloaked figure move into one of the lesser known sub basements. He got a bad feeling about the man and, trusting his instincts, he followed him down below.
The sub basements were warmer than the rest of the academy and only got hotter the further one went down. As Shaa quietly followed the hooded figure, he could start to hear voices coming from further ahead. The cloaked figure soon joined a group of 3 others. They were surrounding a circle that was drawn in the stone with, what appeared to be, blood. The circle was flanked on two sides by burning braziers. The 4 figures held a chain between them forming an outer circle from the bloody inner one.
As he wasn’t the most subtle person, Shaa burst loudly into the room. What are you doing?! He bellowed.
One of the hooded men looked up and another looked at him in panic.
Don’t break eye contact with the circle, you fool!
The walls started to tremble and shake. Shaa put his hands on the wall to keep himself steady but it didn’t really help. Soon, smoke started pouring out of the circle. The mages ran up the stairs and Shaa followed them close behind. Something was coming up behind them and fast.
The group managed to make it out to the inner court yard of the academy. Large noises crashing behind them. As the mages scattered, Shaa turned to face whatever came out of that circle. As it’s serpentine body came into view, Shaa immediately ran for cover diving behind some overturned tables. It had been years since he had seen one and he hoped he would never see one again. Those stupid mages had special summoned a spire viper into the martial academy.
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Post by Ser Gerhart Stanislav on Oct 20, 2022 12:28:15 GMT -5
In the brief lull they had, Gerhart was tending to a few of the wounded to patch up injuries and create a few splints. He was dragging mages into a pile when Shaa came running through. The mage slung over his shoulder is unceremoniously dropped into the pile as he chases after the Minotaur. “Oh good another fight…my ribs….love that idea….only one of them is broken…why not the rest?”
Gerhart certainly lacked the stamina Shaa and likely Zarius had being the most inexperienced of the three. To make up for it though he was incredibly gutsy…or stupid depending on who you asked. He came in just in time to see Shaa dive to the side, instinctively ducking for cover in the other direction. “Ok boss you know a lot more about magic than me…..Is that bad? It looks bad.” Gerhart strains to look around the column and spot the spire viper. “Very bad.”
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Post by Eameia (Zarius unavailable) on Oct 22, 2022 10:21:52 GMT -5
Zarius is nowhere to be seen at first as the gargantuan serpent bursts out of the martial academy. As Shaa and Gerhart stare down this towering creature of scale and venom, two little horns poked out from behind its head. It hadn't seemed to notice yet and Zarius himself isn't even sure how, but the tiefling was perched on the back of this thing's neck.
He had felt the whole building shake and start to collapse as the floor gave away under him. He definitely fell, but then his feet hit something that wasn't stone nor wood. In an attempt to keep from falling further and possibly being impaled on debris below or buried by the shrapnel still falling from the floors above, he dug the tips of his knuckle knives into the surface of whatever he had landed on and just held on until the thing stopped moving.[1]
Peering around after the debris settles, the martial academy was in pretty rough shape with this snake having destroyed one of the wings of the building with its exit. There were students fleeing the grounds at the appearance of the scaled creature. The tiefling glances down at Shaa and Gerhart below. Oh, good. They weren't dead yet. That's nice.
The snake notices as well and swings its head in their direction. That's bad. Zarius quickly comes up with a terrible plan and starts running up the snake's neck to its head. He gets up to the horn-like protrusions over the viper's eyes and grabs onto one and jumps from the side of the head swinging back and planting both his feet into the creature's eye.
The viper hisses in anger and its body thrashes, trashing more of the building behind it. Zarius holds on for dear life and realizes he's at risk of being smashes into the ground if it moves that way, which it does. He lets his grip relax in order to jump off when the snake suddenly lifts its head with flick and launches the tiefling towards the sky.
Zarius blinks as he finds himself flung into the air. So, this is how Veliky feels. He glances down at the ground far below him. Well. That's a problem.
[1] Iron Grip
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Post by Shaa Rhunn on Oct 22, 2022 12:31:45 GMT -5
Gerhart! Shaa calls out from behind the overturned table. Stay hidden! If you have never seen one before, that thing is a spire viper. Shaa watched as the viper was thrashing around for some reason. These things are ambush hunters. Good news, we know it’s here already. Bad news, it knows we’re here too. It was summoned by some mages downstairs and those idiots are still running around somewhere. He needed time to think.
Personally he would much rather deal with the mages than that beast out there. But there was no way in Charon he was going to leave something like that for someone else to deal with. He probably had one more giant growth in him but even a 40 ft Minotaur would have a rough time with this thing. And where in the world was Zarius?
Think think think! Shaa racked is brain. There was something obvious here he was missing. For Ginma’s sake they were in the middle of the martial academy. The school of how to kick the ever loving snot out of anyone or anything. He must have skipped the class on spire vipers. There wasn’t a club big enough…..and then it dawns on him.
Well, it’s not a club…..
A crazy stupid plan comes to him. If it works, this may be their only chance to get rid of it. The only thing was, he would have to be the bait.
Gerhart! Stay where you are. I have a plan. I’m going to get that thing to chase me. When we are out of the room, you have to find those mages! Who knows what they are doing. And see if you can find Zarius. On the count of three. One, two…
Shaa stands up and throws his table and several more at the vipers face until he is sure he has its attention. Over here you scaley son of a …. Shaa didn’t get a chance to finish his insults when the spire viper started to come after him again. Shaa ran through a large set of double doors that the viper could fit in. This would be a run for his life.
GET THE MAGES! he cried as the viper entered the large hallway after him.
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Post by Ser Gerhart Stanislav on Oct 22, 2022 17:08:47 GMT -5
Gerhart looks a little disheartened watching Shaa run off with the viper chasing after him. He wanted to be the one to do the big dumb hero thing of making the big monster chase after you. Oh well, it was a little late to bicker over it. When Shaa books it, Gerhart scrambles to his feet to make his way downstairs only to notice the now falling body of Zarius.
He gets a look in his eye and a smirk, time to see if one of the techniques he had been training on could actually work. Gerhart attempts a wall dash, but lacking the actual skill doesn't get nearly as high as he should. As he springs off a column to try and catch Zarius out of the air, he ends up under the tiefling and acting more as a landing pad. At least Zarius had a cushion for his fall.
"ow....that...almost worked." He gave a rough cough. "Should we get the mages? I could probably handle them if you wanna help Shaa."
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Post by Eameia (Zarius unavailable) on Oct 22, 2022 17:18:50 GMT -5
Ironically, Zarius wasn't concerned about the fall at all. He knew his way around heights and freefalls. Like a cat always landing on his feet, he twists in the air and is readying himself to tumble across the ground and absorb the impact of the fall.[1] Appearing out of his periphery, Gerhart suddenly knocks into him and they both crash to the ground with the poor human flattened under the tiefling.
Zarius lays there for a moment, not really understanding what just happened then sits up and looks down at Gerhart with an unimpressed face. He knew the young man meant well, but he didn't have to try so hard all the time.
"Nice catch." He says with a hint of sarcasm as he gets to his feet and dusts himself off. "Shaa is stronger than I am and has more magic. He can hold that thing off until we teach those idiot casters about the consequences of their actions."
He reaches down and pulls Gerhart to his feet and gives him a quick dusting. "For future reference, do not bother catching me. I appreciate the gesture but I have had a lot of experience falling from rooftops."
Looking around, he doesn't immediately see the mages. "So, you know which way those cowardly spellcasters went?"
[1] Cats Grace
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Post by Shaa Rhunn on Oct 23, 2022 12:36:12 GMT -5
As Shaa ran down the hallway, he could hear the giant viper crashing behind him. He hoped that Gerhart had got out ok but he would just have to trust that he wasn’t going to try something stupid. That was his job.
Here snakey snakey snakey! Whooo ohhhh! As Shaa ran down the hall, every time he ran past a piece of furniture, table, chair, whatever, he would throw it behind him at the snake. Apparently this was not a great way to make friends as the viper kept chasing him.
Shaa would take time to dodge in and out of some large pillars in the hall. As the viper followed him , the twists around the pillars slowed it down enough for the Minotaur to keep ahead of him. Shaa knew he would not be able to keep this up forever. He just needed to find the right staircase. And there it was, thank Ginma.
The staircase itself was much smaller than the hall so this would give Shaa a chance for a breather. Bolting up the staircase, he stops about 15 ft up and stops to rest. The spire viper reaches the stairs, his head too big to fit in the passage. Hahaha what are you going to do now slippery Pete? I am just going to take a quick break while I work out how to kill you. Just be a moment.
The spire viper looks at Shaa and starts a weird kind of wiggle. Just what are you up to Pete? To Shaa’s astonishment, the spire viper is starting to shrink. He attempts to jam its head in the staircase but it’s still too small. The viper wiggles again and shrinks further. The viper is still too big but just barely now. Shaa shakes off the shock and continues to bolt up the stairs. Spire vipers can’t do that! Shaa cries. Friggen mages!
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Post by Ser Gerhart Stanislav on Oct 23, 2022 12:52:08 GMT -5
"In my defense, you didn't give me an itemized list of all the things you can do." He gives a rough laugh as he is helped to his feet. "I think they scattered after that thing busted out and started wreaking havoc all over the place. I saw them heading toward the inner courtyard, probably waiting to ambush us."
Gerhart smiles as he rolls his shoulders. "I can't do much but get in some faces, but I saw you just like absorb some spells or something above....so if I go in knives blazing, I think I can get at least one of them before they realize what's going on. If you follow behind all invisible, you could cover if they cast any big spell and get the drop on them. Sound good?"
Before waiting to get Zarius' full approval, he did start walking towards the inner courtyard slow enough that Zarius could offer a counter plan, but fast enough to note they don't have time to sit up here and bicker. The sound of crashing and fighting from Shaa and the viper was faint, but still worried Gerhart. He didn't want to waste time coming up with the best plan, they just needed *a* plan.
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Post by Eameia (Zarius unavailable) on Oct 24, 2022 22:11:28 GMT -5
"To be fair, if I had provided you with that much information I would have to kill you for knowing too much." Zarius quips back at the young fighter.
He follows Gerhart and listens to his plan. "That suits me fine, though I think I can only do that once more before it starts having negative effects. Best of luck and do not die."
With that, the tiefling once again turns invisible and skulks off through the courtyard.[1]
The remaining four mages were not far. They were outside the building peeking through windows in hopes of catching the viper in their buff spells as it pursues Shaa around the interior of the academy.
Zarius spots one that is further away than the others. He silently creeps up on this individual and, without hesitation, slams his fist into the mage's head.[2] The mage falls to the ground stunned as their brain rattles around in their skull from the impact.[3]
The tiefling's invisibility flicks when he attacks but reforms around him once he slows down his movements. He looks around and starts circling around to cut off the other's escape for when Gerhart puts his plan into motion. While he circles around, he keeps an eye out for Shaa in case the Minotaur has become snake food.
[1] Invisibility [2] Silent Step [3] Stunning Blows
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Post by Shaa Rhunn on Oct 25, 2022 7:42:49 GMT -5
Shaa had made it up to the first landing. Back to open spaces again and on to the next part of the plan. The ultimate goal here was to make it all the way up to the top of the building where O’l Bessie was waiting for them. If there was anything in this whole place that could take down the spire viper, O’l Bessie was it. How Shaa loved her so. Her long curves. Her sharp head. Wound tight like a cat ready to pounce. He only needed to make it there.
But this was no ordinary spire viper. Whether it was by design or those idiot mages messing up the conjuring, Shaa had seen it do things that were unheard of. Like they needed to be more dangerous! With a large table in hand, Shaa waited at the door of the hallway leading downstairs for the viper to stick his head out. Shaa highly doubted this table would do any real damage but it may make Slippery Pete think twice about just slithering over and eating him.
Shaa could hear the noises coming up the stairs. Closer and closer. Then…nothing. Shaa knew very well that spire vipers were ambush hunters so not having line of sight on this thing was unnerving. After a minute, Shaa put down the table and slowly opened the stairway door. There was nothing. What in the… Fortunately for Shaa, he happened to have excellent night vision. As he peered down the stairs, he could see a very large hole on the side of the staircase. The viper was nowhere to be seen. You have got to be kidding me. Shaa had a very creepy feeling about this, like he was being watched.
He sends pulses into the floor. This was a lot harder to do inside a building with lots of solid structures but it was worth the try. Shaa searched using the pulses for anything big. Where are you, where are y… it was underneath him. Shaa leaps out of the way just in time as the viper bursts out of the floor. It winds up and spits a translucent goo at Shaa. He has just enough time to put the table between himself and the goo. As the table gets splashed with the goo, it begins to dissolve in his hands and Shaa quickly drops it. Checking himself for burns, he says Really Slippery Pete? Shaa grabs one of the beams from the newly busted floor and jams it into the vipers nose. Pete shakes his head back and forth trying to dislodge it. As he does so, Shaa runs down the hall and up the next flight of stairs.
Ground Tremors Bulls Strength Improvised Weapons Night Vision
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Post by Ser Gerhart Stanislav on Oct 25, 2022 7:59:46 GMT -5
Gerhart follows behind Zarius by about 10 feet or so to give him a chance to get in there and do some damage before stepping in for his part. Once he hears the skull bounce against the stone he dashes in, seeing the other three confused and trying to figure out where the attack came from. Gerhart spies a pyromancer gathering fire in his hands, rather than careful targeting it seemed he was just going to nuke the courtyard and take Zarius down that way.
Rather than let that happen, Gerhart throws his magic blocking dagger at the mage's midsection. The flames sputter out and die as it cuts into his stomach. When the knife bounces off the wall behind him, Gerhart uses his dashing dagger to burst forward and slam the pommel of the dagger into that wound knocking him out from the shock of pain. He grins as he catches the thrown dagger before it hits the ground and turns to face the other two.
"You still have time to give up, you know? It's two on two and clearly we've been winning so far. Unsummon your snake and maybe we won't call the minotaur back here." Whether or not they surrendered, they'd at least focus on him and forget Zarius hopefully.
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Post by Eameia (Zarius unavailable) on Oct 28, 2022 14:20:02 GMT -5
The two remaining spellcasters spring into action as they are confronted by Gerhart, magic gathering in their hands as one starts to levitate into the air and the other bristles with ice.[1,2] The cryomancer laughs.
"Ha! Fools. You think this is over? This is just the start! Just wait until our three top members get he-"
Zarius appears out of invisibility and grabs the mage by the back of their robes and flings them through the window inside the martial academy.
At that moment, the spire viper had just freed itself from the post shoved up its nostril. Its attention is momentarily distracted from Shaa by the noise of shattering glass somewhere else in the building. Its tongue flicks in the air briefly before it follows after Shaa.
Zarius huffs and sprints up the wall up to the aeromancer.[3] Seeing the tiefling running up the wall with ease before the invisibility obscures him once more, they start to glide away from the building.
"You can't reach me up here!"
Actually, he could, and he did. Zarius grabs onto the aeromancer's foot after leaping off from the wall.[4] From Gerhart's perspective, he sees the aeromancer suddenly jostled in the air and dragged down by some invisible weight dangling off his leg.
"Get ready to cut him down!" Zarius' voice shouts from nowhere at the young fighter as the mage struggles to free themself from the tiefling's grip.
[1] Flight (aeromancer) [2] Chill touch (cryomancer) [3] Spider Climb Boots [4] Iron Grip
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Post by Shaa Rhunn on Oct 28, 2022 14:45:51 GMT -5
As Shaa raced up the next flight of stairs, he could barely hear anything over the sound of his own heart racing. He could see where part of his fur was singed and made a strong mental note to keep well away from that stuff or it just might end him. His only comfort was that if the viper was here with him, his companions should be safe. It’s just a bunch of mages, what could go wrong.
Shaa was pretty sure that he and the viper had not made friends at this point. His plan was still on track and as long as it kept following him the way it had been, he would be fine. The only issue is that there were too many questions between him and his final destination to take anything for granted.
He soon makes it to the next landing and finds himself in a small rec room with a gaming table, chairs, and other sundry gaming equipment. The medium sized spice viper bursts through the door with a loud hissssss. Shaa grabs several darts from a dart board on the wall and launches them all into the vipers face. Several of them manage to stick in his nose but he seemed undeterred.
Shaa flips the gaming table into his face and pushes from the back side. Despite Shaa’s brute strength, the snake is barely even slowed down as it thrashes with the table. The viper snaps at Shaa, almost clipping him. With a swing of its head, the viper sends Shaa flying back into some stacked chairs with a crash. The viper strikes at him and he is barely able to roll out of the way in time. Pieces of flying shrapnel pelt Shaa’s side.
Shaa grabs a lantern and tosses it at some of the broken furniture, lighting it ablaze. The viper doesn’t like it and shrinks from the flames a bit looking for a way to get around them. Shaa takes the momentary distraction and limps to the far door. He can hear the thrashing of the viper behind him. He uses the hand rails to make it to the top but the door is locked. Really? He says in exasperation. Shaa punches a hole in the door and unlocks it from the other side. He pushes the door open, Ole Bessie is there waiting for him.
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Post by Ser Gerhart Stanislav on Oct 28, 2022 21:38:38 GMT -5
"Oh sure, make me do all the hard work." Gerhart chuckles as the aeromancer starts to get dragged down. He looks around at the rubble and decides to grab a few good chunks of concrete. He felt like there was something poetic about using the destruction they caused to end it.
The first few throws went atrociously wide as the man tried to jostle himself free of the tiefling. "Hold still you dick!" With a frustrated yell, the next rock did find purchase against the forehead of the mage. As he starts to fall unconcious, Gerhart gives a little fist pump and sigh of relief.
The sounds of the spire viper fighting against Shaa had him a bit worried. "All right no idea where you are right now Za, but go and help Shaa, I'm gonna make sure we got everyone in here is taken care of. Last thing we need is one of them to wake up and surprise us."
With that, Gerhart starts to gather up the mages in this room into a pile. The ones that groan and mumble get a swift punch to make doubly sure they are knocked out before Gerhart starts to tie them together into a big group.
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Post by Eameia (Zarius unavailable) on Oct 29, 2022 23:33:26 GMT -5
Once the aeromancer is down, Zarius gives Gerhart a firm pat on the back while invisible. “Good work.” He comments before racing up the outside of the building to search for Shaa.[1]
The sounds of the ongoing battle with the spire viper were easily picked up by the tiefling. He quickly makes his way across the outside walls of the building up to the floor with the recreational room. He peeks through a window just as the spire viper flings a chair through it as it thrashes about, barely dodging out of the way as the glass goes flying.
“Gods.” He mutters before hopping through the window and looking around.
The spire viper was a lot smaller than he remembered it was just moments ago. Had Shaa done something to it? Or had their taking down of the mages reduced its size? Magic could do that right? He didn’t know, but he catches sight of Shaa running up the stairs, leaving the spire viper seeking for a way around the flames.
Not sure what Shaa was planning, Zarius decides to buy him some time. He picks up a piece of broken furniture and flings it at the viper, hitting it on the head.[2]
The viper hisses and raises its head, looking around in confusion. It flicks its tongue then locks in on Zarius’ position, detecting him by scent instead of sight.
“Oh. SHAA!” Zarius calls as he sprints up the stairs after the minotaur as the viper pursues him.
[1] Spider Silk Boots [2] Improvised Weapons
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