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Post by Shaa Rhunn on Feb 9, 2023 9:19:30 GMT -5
Shaa got to feet and faced the electric cat. The thing would make a super cool pet if it wasn’t trying to kill them and everything. Ray calls for the ole bait and switch and Shaa snorts a laugh. It seemed forever ago since Ray and Shaa had fought that other displacer beast in the pit. The only difference is there wasn’t a slaad around but a very sketchy lizard man now being assaulted by the other guys who wanted them dead. At least, for the moment, they wanted Fazal a little more dead.
Nodding to Ray, Shaa rushes at the the big cat . This time, it doesn’t blink but stands it’s ground and started striking at him with its whipping tails. He needed to give Ray his opening and sitting here playing Patty Cake with this thing wasn’t helping. He needed it to move for their plan to work. Or not move….
Shaa steps back a little to draw it forward. He slaps his hands together and stones jump up from the ground attempting to wrap around the feet of the cat. When it gets stuck, the cat hisses loudly at Shaa even though he can’t really hear it over all of the chanting and attempted murder in the background. With a shake, the displacer beast vanishes. This was their chance. Shaa dives out of the way and calls out. Go Ray!
Earth Bind
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Ray Castien, my character https://talesofcharon.proboards.com/thread/660/ray-castien-character-page
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Post by Ray Castien on Feb 15, 2023 10:12:47 GMT -5
Ray had to guess as to the next possible position of the beast, unless... He tried to look distracted, focusing instead on the chanting lizard men and hoping the beast would take the bait. Shaa's entrapment of the beast spurred it on and the bait was accepted, the displacer beast popped into existence behind Ray. Turning he made a reflexive strike with both sabers, each humming with holy energy. The blades whipped through several of the beasts tails, severing them and finally striking into the nape of its neck. Realizing what this beast was, a being formed of magic, Ray invoked his ability to absorb magic. Using the blades as siphons he started to drain the electrical magic out of the beast. A quick yelp later and it had disappeared again, reappearing behind Shaa once more.
Only, the siphoning had worked, it now appeared about the size of a medium dog with only a few small tail whips. The creature seemed taken aback by its relative proportions and, after sizing Shaa up, ran off into the caverns...
"Well, I didn't really expect that to work." Ray said, chuckling at the sight of the little feline fleeing.
Realizing he had no time to be distracted Ray moved towards the group of chanting lizard men. The circle around Fazal and his lackey had grown larger and denser, lighting now struck around the cavern from the tree's branches as it pulsed in a frenzy. As the tempo of its pulsating increased as did that of the lizards' chanting. Some began to scream in terror as the ritual continued. Fazal now levitated off the ground, his eyes spewing crackling electricity as he spoke words of ancient magical potency.
As Ray managed to reach the group the barrier burst outwards, static energy left Ray's hair and clothes electrified. The air was charged to the point of volatility, the lizard men that bumped into one another from the blast's shockwave sparked and flashed with electrical discharges. Fazal hovered over the chamber aglow with electricity, cackling maniacally.
"You're still here? Good, I need to test my supremacy!"
He stretched his hands out towards the crowd of lizard men and tendrils of electricity streaked into each of them from his palms. As the magic struck each their eyes went blank and they turned towards Shaa and Ray, spears raised.
"Wanderer save us, these odds are far from in our favor..." Ray looked to Shaa with apprehension.
They would either get their revenge or die.
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Post by Shaa Rhunn on Feb 15, 2023 12:04:52 GMT -5
Shaa watched as the cultists were turned into electric mindless minions. Well that’s a new one. Look guys, I don’t want to hurt you. Please feel free to return to glowy guy stabbing. The lizard men’s eyes crackled with electricity as they ignored Shaa and continued their advance, spears held high. Well don’t say that I didn’t warn you. These guy are in serious need of a beating . The first lizard up runs at Shaa with his spear. He grabs the shaft of the spear, pulling the lizard in too fast for him to strike. As he closed the gap, Shaa punches him hard in the face and the lizard man crashes hard to the floor.
There’s too many of them, we need some space. Shaa runs over to a cave wall and puts his hands on it. Sending tremors through the walls themselves, chunks of cave ceiling start raking down on the lizard men. Fazal gets a panicked look on his face. You cretin, what do you think you are doing? Shaa was confused for a moment as he was sure that none of the rocks had fallen on Fazal. Then he heard it. The pitch of the sound coming from the crystal had changed. Had he done that? Sending another tremor through the walls, a chunk of the giant crystal gets a large crack in it, falling down into the pit. The sound was definitely different now.
Stop that! Stop that you moron! Don’t just stand there Gruk, kill him! With that, the ogre comes charging at them both.
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Ray Castien, my character https://talesofcharon.proboards.com/thread/660/ray-castien-character-page
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Post by Ray Castien on Feb 16, 2023 11:41:52 GMT -5
Ray's heart plummeted as the lizard men are forced to turn against them by Fazal's magic. He'd hoped above all else to avoid killing them, the innocent guardians of the place, but it now seemed unavoidable. Qil's own internal conflict at the predicament was obvious as well. Seeking a way to avoid causing too much pain, Ray decided holding off the hoard as Shaa messed with the crystal would be the best bet.
"Shaa, keep doing whatever it is you're doing!"
The crystals pulsed once more in their normal color and a burst of electrical energy discharged down into the crowd of lizard men. Each one struck had their normal appearance returned. These newly returned lizards looked to Fazal with hatred and began to skirmish with those still in his control. That would provide the distraction they needed, all Ray had to do was keep Gruk and Fazal from stopping Shaa and they'd be able to prevent further damage being done.
Ray summoned up Qil's energy, allowing the celestial to fully manifest once more. Ray's eyes burned with white fire, the flames spread out and covered his whole body before growing to an enormous height. The fire seemed to solidify before a dazzling light flashed out from it. As the light faded what remained was Ray, standing almost 25 feet tall, with two enormous blades to match. Ray released the blades which floated down and engaged Gruk as he charged towards Shaa. The ogre stopped in confusion as the giant blades began to strike at him. He was put on the defensive, using earth magic to protect himself and evade the blades that now each stood around 8 feet in length.1,2
Ray and Fazal both raised a hand towards one another to prepare spells. Fazal's hand gathered electrical energy as Ray's was surrounded in holy fire. Fazal released a blast of lighting just as Ray closed his hand into a fist and ripped it away to the side. Fazal's lightning struck Ray's behemoth form directly in the chest where it was simply absorbed and converted to his own energy. As Ray's fist was ripped to the side the tree's energy pulsed wildly and Fazal dropped out of the sky with a shocked look on his face. With Fazal weakened momentarily Ray rushed forwards to take advantage of the opportunity.3,4
"Now's your chance, Shaa." His voice boomed, amplified by his now giant lungs.
(1 - Belt of Giant Size, 2 - Spell Sword) (3 - Mage Slayer, 4 - Gifts Ungiven)
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Post by Shaa Rhunn on Feb 16, 2023 14:01:20 GMT -5
Hang on Ray! Shaa tried to force as much energy as possible into the walls. The room was shaking violently now with the crystal tree now showing several large fissures as well as alternating colors. Shaa kept a side eye on their opponents. Giant Ray was doing a great job keeping them at bay and it looked like he was about to deal with Fazal once and for all.
With a loud crack, a line forms in the ceiling above them, growing and growing at an exponential rate. The tree now was more cracks than branches as giant crystals start raining down to the bottom of the pit. Ginmas beard. RAY! Forget it! We have to get out of here NOW! A large stalactite drops from the ceiling, right on top of the petulant ogres head Noooo..CRUNCH. Shaa didn’t feel sorry for him but didn’t want to follow him either. There was no more need for him to shake the room so he takes off into the tunnel they came from.
Checking back behind him to make sure Ray is following him, he finds Tee Ka still lying unconscious on the ground. No place for a nap missy! Shaa grabs her and tucks her under his arm. With his other hand, he starts summoning walls that run flush with the tunnel walls to try and reinforce them while still leaving room to escape. Shaa waits a moment but there is still no sign of Ray. Shaa could dig out of a cave in no problem but it was Ray and Tee Ka that he was worried about. RAAAYYYY! Shaa called down the tunnel. Hoping his walls will hold long enough for Ray to escape, Shaa dashes into the tunnel and towards the surface. As he runs, Shaa makes obvious marks in the wall so Ray will know where to follow.
He just needs to get her outside and he can go back for Ray. He can tell Tee Kas breathing is shallow now. Any longer in the tunnels and she is done. Hold on man! Hold on!
Rumbling Tremors summon Wall Force of Nature
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Post by Ray Castien on Feb 21, 2023 11:25:12 GMT -5
Ray's bloodlust, empowered by the giant form he'd taken, propelled him on towards Fazal as he lay in a heap near the tree's base looking on in horror as his plan crumbled about him. Shaa's voice beckoning him to abandon the pursuit was unable to break Ray's focus. Tearing through the army of lizards Ray broke through to Fazal's position and grabbed the scoundrel around the waist. As Ray lifted him into the air, grip tightening, a loud crack echoed from the crystal structure above them and sent a massive chunk of the tree down towards the two of them. It crashed into Ray's shoulder forcing him to fall to the ground and crushing Fazal and a few lizard men in the process. The pieces of falling crystal began to include chunks of the cave itself soon enough.
Ray glanced about himself, realizing the danger he was now in. The lizards had taken to chanting a different song in a desperate attempt to save the ancient structure. Whatever effect it had was slow, and Ray struggled to move towards the exit.
"Wanderer, protect me from the frailty of my mortality!" The prayer echoed out as another enormous chunk rained down upon his body. A ring of light surrounded him and the crystal hunk simply slid past his form as a force field of holy energy deflected it. More falling stones repeated this effect and drained Ray's reserves as they did so. In order to preserve energy he released the magic that held him in his giant form, shrinking to his normal size once more. Ray dodged between the falling stones with the help of Qil's premonition as smaller shards broke upon the forcefield, managing to just reach the exit tunnel before a massive limb of crystal covered the entrance.
"SHAA!!" He shouted, worried for his friend's fate. A glow of light emanated from his body and illuminated the caves revealing reinforcements along the walls. It was proof that Shaa had escaped, he could likely even follow the bolstered walls to an exit, Shaa had a sense for those things.
Ray rushed through the caverns as cracks formed along the walls and even the reinforced sections cracked and shifted with the tremors pulsing from the main cavern. Once the reinforced walls stopped Ray was uncertain as to where to go.
"Seeker, that tunnel!" Qil forced Ray's attention to a small tunnel leading upwards, scrapes along its walls indicated Shaa had passed and left a guide for him. Thank The Wanderer for that minotaur.
Sprinting through the tunnels once more he found himself growing weaker, endurance had never been a strong suit of his and the earlier fight was taking its toll. His energy waned and his breath now came in rasps of exhaustion. He called upon the final reserves of Qil's holy energy, finding them empty...
His body slowed and before long he simply forced himself to walk with every ounce of mental strength he had left. A voice called down the tunnel, his name echoing in the dark above the tremors and falling stones.
"Shaa..." He tried to scream but it was too much for his lungs to manage.
After walking a small way further he slumped to his knees, his legs had given out from the massive efforts of the day. He looked towards the surface, thinking of the fate that awaited him in a collapsed tunnel. Perhaps he'd finally meet The Wanderer face to face...
The thought was short lived as Shaa came into view. Graciousness was hardly adequate to describe the feeling the sight brought to him.
"Thank you Wanderer, for this gift of fate." He spoke between labored breaths.
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Post by Shaa Rhunn on Feb 21, 2023 12:16:17 GMT -5
With Tee Ka under his arm, Shaa manages to get to the surface. After lying her diwn in a secluded corner, he could tell that she was breathing easier now. At least they got one person out but there was one more person Shaa had to make sure escaped. There was still no sign of Ray.
Shaa fuels a burst of adrenaline in his system and barrels back into the tunnel. Falling rock and debris are no match for the Minotaurs high speed charge into the darkness. Hopefully his friend had seen the path he had marked out for him. Raaaayyyyy! He calls deep into the chasm. There wasn’t much time left and this cave would become a tomb. Then, in a corner, Shaa sees his friend collapsed on the ground. Ray! Shaa rushed over and scooped him up, making a bee line back towards the exit. With his head down and legs blazing, it doesn’t take them long until he is able to make it back to the groggy Tee Ka on the surface.
Shaa lays Ray down gently on the ground to check on the young gnome. Hey, your awake. How are feeling? Tee Ka looks at the Minotaur throughly confused. What happened? I thought you guys fell down a hole? Shaa scoffed. Ummm it didn’t take. Tee Ka looks around for her companions. We were walking towards the crystal and….I don’t know what happened. I guess I passes out. What happened to my companions? Shaa looked back at the now collapsed cave tunnel. They got buried in their work. Shaa flips off the cave tunnel for good measure. He then goes back to check Ray. Bro, you ok?
Adrenaline Rush Bull Strength Juggernaut Horns
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Post by Ray Castien on Mar 11, 2023 12:32:39 GMT -5
Being carried to the surface by a geomancer minotaur high on adrenaline was both the least comfortable and most appreciated thing Ray had ever experienced. The cave collapsed behind them and the sky finally came into view, fresh air and roiling storm clouds greeted them. Tee Ka now stood, barely conscious, asking about the arseholes that had gotten them into this mess.
Shaa's response and the feeling of having survived was enough to cause Ray to laugh hysterically while collapsed on the ground in an exhausted heap. Whatever the lightning fields had left it would be nothing compared to what they'd just experienced. The only thing that still bothered Ray was the fate of the lizard men and the artifact below them, it had been of some importance if even Qil knew of it from millennia ago.
"Do not fret, Seeker, the caretakers will see to its restoration. A handful of mortals cannot derail the will of the gods." Qil seemed relaxed once more, this put Ray at ease.
"Thank The Wanderer for you, Shaa. I owe you one." He pushed himself to his feet and patted Shaa on the back.
"Tee Ka, you need to learn to pick better friends in the future... Let's get out of here, we'll explain the rest in the safety of a town."
The closest settlement was the one they'd left, Sky Peak Village, it was also the location of his temple and a path he knew by heart.
"I suggest we hightail it back to Sky Peak before things get worse here. Who knows what that trouble below will cause up here..." Ray's celestial powers were allowing him to recover quickly so he wouldn't need to request a second lift from Shaa on the journey to safety.
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Post by Shaa Rhunn on Mar 16, 2023 10:15:07 GMT -5
Go back? Everything that Ray was saying made sense. It was the smart move. It was the SAFE move. But the little voice in Shaa’s head that was the cause of most of his scars and several patches of singed fur screamed in rebellion. They just went through all of this crap only to end up back in the same place. As much as he wanted to want to, he just couldn’t do it. Looking down at Tee Ka, she was staring back in the direction of where they came, probably feeling like a fool and utter failure as well.
No Ray. I hear you, I really do. But we got ourselves paid for a job and we are getting through the lightning fields. Now that it’s just you, me and Short Cake here, our options of travel have opened up somewhat. Tee Ka looks up at him with a dirty face. Ckean streaks have cut through the dirt on her cheeks where her tears have wiped clean the trail to her knobby chin. You…you really think you can still get me across? She blubbered. There was no doubt in Shaa’s mind they could still do it. But that was because he had stuffed the logical part of his brain in a deep corner somewhere and he was about to so something stupid, realllly stupid. Surreee…no problem. Shaa points to a large set of rocks a couple hundred yards away. Be right back, you guys ummmm…. Just be ready to go. We are getting there “ The Shaa way”. Tee Ka looks at Ray and asks. What’s the Shaa way? As the Minotaur runs to the rocks and disappears behind them.
Nearly 30 minutes go by with no sign of the crazy adventurer. Then suddenly, some loud crashing rocks can be heard. They can hear his voice and a loud second one echoing through between the rocks. From out behind the butte, comes slithering out a bloody spire viper with Shaa riding on top of it. Some thorny vines are writhing out of the vipers nose in a make shift harness. As they slither over, Shaa calls down to them. See! No problem. But umm, this is pretty much a temporary situation so hop on and let’s blow this place.
When everyone is on board, Shaa goads the giant viper forward and they are off at incredible speeds. It was actually pretty lucky to find this guy. Don’t feel bad though, he did try to eat me first. The viper hisses back at them. That’s right, you owe us a ride fair and square. The trio blazes through obstacles like they were nothing. This would actually be amazing transportation normally if he didn’t want to kill them all the time. Shaa noted several bandit camps that cleared out as soon as they saw them coming. When they saw what was actually happening, he could have sworn he saw a couple bandits place a bet. Never a good sign. But soon enough, they were in sight of Stormgale village. Hopping off the viper, Shaa looks at him in the eyes. Ok, I’m unsummoning the vines. If you try ANYTHING, i will resummon them in an entirety different hole. You read me? Realization awakes over the viper as he submits. Shaa makes the vines vanish. As soon as he does, the viper disappears back to the fields.
I can’t believe we made it. Says Tee Ka, still shaking from the ride. Ok I believe this officially ends our commission. Stay out of trouble Short Cake and next time….pick better companions.
END
Vine Field improvised weapons
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