The trio fly through the layer of heat protected by Leandros' shield; he promptly discards it as they float above the dragon now. The group watches as chains wrap around the dragon now holding it in place.

Now was the time for action wasn't it?

Through his exhaustion and soreness, Ulrich offers Leandros a warm smile as he references adventurers such as they. He made it seem as though they were heroic warriors of Charon, but to Ulrich, all he was was just some guy; a traveler who didn't really have much impact upon the world like a knight in shining armor. Of course, if they lived after today, they would surely feel the repercussions of destroying a being such is this, wouldn't they?

"I can muster up one last surge for it, I believe." He answers through tired breath.

Listening to Leandros' plan intently, Ulrich nods. He spares a look down at the dragon below as he contemplates how the situation could turn out once they enact the plan. He wills the cloud to ascend even higher now hoping it would help them deal enough of a blow to end this fight together with everyone.

Ulrich chuckles, "Reckless? Recklessness is certainly something I take part in regularly!" He exclaims happily as he pats Leandros on the shoulder. "Although I do get in trouble for it from time to time." The thought of a certain Rabbitaur enters his mind. Ah, the words and punches he would receive for this situation.

He peers over the side of the cloud and watches Leandro's armor reflect the dragon's light off into the shape of a brilliant star! How could you not follow someone into battle like that? An inspiration to all if he had to say so himself. He takes a couple of steps back readying himself for the plunge. He looks to Astrid with a nod, "Well, we heard the man. See you down there, Astrid!" He charges and gracefully leaps over the side to follow Leandros.

He spots Leandros and he adjusts and angles his body into a dive accelerating his velocity; following the knight's projected point of attack. Strong gusts of wind shoot out from his feet further increasing his speed. A few moments of contemplation hit him as he looked around at the environment of the battle. It was insane, certainly. His mind began to drift to his parents, to Leni and the young ones they had adopted; he never expected to be a part of something like that. He certainly never expected to be important to people he'd met on his travels, but he was, and it gives him the push he needs to hopefully finish this.

He adjusts his body as he grows nearer; his fist closes tightly and he rears it back. The crackles and hiss of static electricity sound out as streaks of lightning dance and encircle him. The magic gathers into his forearm and his fist opens.

"One more time... For Charon!" He says as he lets out a ferocious scream of determination as he plummets towards the dragon.

He arrives in a blur; a bright flash of lightning erupts as the back of Leandros' halberd is struck by Ulrich's open palm! His momentum pushes the halberd further; the lightning magic channeled through it causes it to shake even more violently than the last time it had! The two yell with all their might as they fight to push through. This was it... Ulrich didn't have anymore energy left after this. Hopefully they had done enough damage for Astrid and the others to take of this being once and for all.

---

SUMMARY:

Ulrich drops down and plummets from the sky following Leandros. He boosts Leandros' attack with his own leaving the rest to Astrid, and hopefully they teleport safely back onto the cloud.

ACTIONS:

1.) Casted Gust Thrust to boost his velocity in freefall.
2.) Casted Static Charge and stuck the back of Lee's halberd in tandem with his attack.

Astrid presses herself close behind Lee and his shield. The heat is really starting to get to her. She might not have gotten very injured (something that Cantio will be glad to hear of), but if she’s not careful, she might just fall out from exhaustion. That would be very not good. Still, things are turning. With the chains still gripping Vulcadreas and holding him down, they have their opening.

As they approach the height of their ascent, she looks to Lee and nods. Earlier, she was so caught up in everything else going on that she barely caught a glimpse of the move they made earlier, but knowing Lee and Ulrich, it was probably both smart and awesome. Astrid hefts her hammer with a breathless but confident grin. “I’ve got a few more tricks up me sleeve,” she says.

Before she knows it, they’re off, Lee falling like a star and Ulrich falling after him with a burst of speed an electricity. Looking over the edge of the cloud, Astrid sizes up the massive fiery dragon below. A blue flash of Blue Raspberry marks a perfect spot for her and Lee to strike. The problem is the return. With her wings exhausted, she’ll have to use magic to get back up, but her mana reserves are drained, and considering the move she wants to pull, she might not be able to manifest the magic she needs to do so. Well, that’s a problem for future her if she survives this.

Pulling her goggles over her eyes, Astrid steps forward and lets gravity take her. The few seconds she has during the fall, she considers how she might do this. Both hands grip her hammer, and an icy blue glow forms at the end of it. This will take a lot of focus. She has to time it right. A cold mist escapes Astrid’s mouth, and her eyes glow bright blue while she manifests the magic of Frok the Fell Frost, the dragon she and Kamille slayed in Frost Gale. She reels back, ready for the impact, putting just enough spin on her body as she aims for the spot that Blue, Lee, and Ulrich's combined efforts struck. It’s time for the piledriver!

Magic and might combine with Astrid’s strike. A brilliant blue beam of icy magic fires off from the end of Astrid's hammer as she drives it full force into the weakened spot on Vulcadreas’ head. Like a blade, it slices through the hot miasma of the dragon. If she’s lucky, it will cut all the way through. Astrid lets out a full-fledged war cry, her voice mixing with the voices of all the adventurers protecting the realm alongside her.

“FOR CHARON!!!”

---

Direct mentions: Ulrich Ambriz  Leandros Aurthurian

Positioning/Summary: Following Lee and Ulrich, Astrid targets the spot on Vulcy’s head that they both attacked + the same spot affected by Blue Raspberry’s Flesh Rend for a Momentous Cleave with Frost Pulse as an icy lightsaber. Buttfellow is on the LEFT of the dragon in an inert state.

Actions:

• Offensive Action: Astrid casts Frost Pulse using her bonded weapon as the casting focus. It is a beam that fires from the top of the hammer as she cleaves down on the weakened spot.
  SPOILER: Click to show
  You spend a few moments welling up magical power in your fingertips before releasing a thirty foot long, narrow beam of freezing energy that lasts until it is canceled. The longer it strikes an opponent, the more damage it deals, even capable of inflicting frostbite. This spell is draining on your mana supply, and becomes more draining the longer it is used. You can not move or cast other spells while using this beam.
• Offensive Action: Astrid attacks using Momentous Cleave on the spot struck by Blue's Flesh Rend (x2 physical damage) and Lee's strike spot, empowered by Lee’s spirits guardians' elemental buffs. Lightning on her weapon ignores resistance/immunity due to Spellblade. Lightning, ice, heavy war hammer. Baloth muscles, Bull’s Strength.
  SPOILER: Click to show
  A technique best utilized by fighters who have honed their speed and precision to deliver quick, deep incisions in a target’s vulnerable spots. When a fighter uses this technique, their speed allows them to deliver a whirlwind of attacks that deal double the damage of normal attacks. Within the time it takes to make one attack, you are able to deliver three attacks that all deal double damage. At the end of this strike (regardless if the attacks hit or not) You use your speed and agility to disengage from the enemy, allowing you to retreat without your opponent being able to attack you as you flee. This can be used twice per topic.
• Persistent effect: Howling Gale (Defensive)
  
  SPOILER: Click to show
  Your mastery has become so pervasive that you are like a maelstrom, able to create a tornado like effect that encircles you beginning at ten feet from your body and going out another five feet from there. The harsh winds buffet and slice at any you deem an enemy while being completely harmless to yourself and allies. You can see through the effect but others cannot, and it automatically blocks any sky domain or ranged weapon attacks that are used against you, while speeding up those same spells and attacks that you and your allies use.
• Persistent effect: Scern's God Killer (Offensive, post 2/2, ice damage)
  
  SPOILER: Click to show
  A very powerful spell that was crafted by Scern and used against Ziev in the battle over the Sol Stone. To cast this spell, you must have made no offensive actions on your last post (nothing that intended to deal damage, injure, hurt or afflict some kind of negative effect). When you cast this spell, you target one enemy you see within 20 feet causing red hot burning chains to burst from the ground and wrap around the target. The target will take medium amounts of fire damage and be unable to make movement or take any actions (including casting spells) for their next two posts. This spell can only be used once per topic and cannot be used against Player Characters (unless permission is given).

Minion/Pet Actions:

• Dancing Chain on 3 post cooldown. [post 1/3]
• Buttfellow is combat inert until activated again.

Tracking:

• Armor/shield hit preventions: 7/8 (+ activated items for more preventions)
• Minor wounds: 1
• Major wounds: 0
• Gold Coin: 1
• Silver Coin: 1
• Arcane Activation: 1 use remaining, not active currently
• Buttfellow’s Mana Bulwark: 0/3 (golem not active)
• Buttfellow's Wounds: 2 minor
• Bat Wings: (2 post cooldown, post 1/2)
• Number of Replicants: 0
• Electrical Surge charges: 3
• Howling Gale (no duration listed)

Active Passives:

SPOILER: Click to show

• Sun Sparked Goggles - immunity to blinding effects
• Diplopia Armor - creates afterimages that makes it hard to target the wearer
• Greaves - Lightning-grounded enchantment
• Raider’s Loincloth - Prevents movement from being slowed or restricted
• Arcane Proxy - can be the source of spells if within 100ft of user
• Bull’s Strength tattoo - double strength
• Night Vision - see in the dark (except magical darkness)
• Touch of Divinity - I don’t fuckin’ know, but I'm listing it
• Baloth Muscles - right arm, smash through structures
• Arcane Soul - Lightning damage on bonded weapon (war hammer) ignores resistance/immunity
• Arcane Focus - Bonded weapon is spell focus, can cast spells through it
• Always There - Cannot be disarmed from bonded weapon. Can summon bonded weapon.
• Stalwart armor - Ignores effects that bypass armor
• Master Combattant - Can wield two-handed weapons in one hand
• Immovable Bastion - Cannot be forcibly moved or knocked down by spells or effects
• Light as a Feather - ignore armor weight
• Electrical Surge - Gain charges for casting lightning spells
• War hammer - bonded weapon (lightning damage), Pale Ice, Heavy
• Battle hammer - silvered, ice rune, weapon tether

It's almost over.

Askr isn't sure how or why he knows, but he does-- there's a certainty settling in his synthetic bones, some sureness only cemented by the frozen chains that encircle the volatile form of this God of Cycles, a confidence that they are swiftly approaching the end of the fight. The knowledge does not make it much easier to want to carry on, does not wash the exhaustion away from his body, does not scrub the guilt from his artificial soul, but it is important knowledge all the same. It is almost over. They have... almost won.

There is a choir of war cries all around him, the voices of strangers and acquaintances alike resonant as they raise their weapons, call upon the magic intrinsic to their very spirits, do anything and everything with what they have left to send a God crumbling back to dust. He thinks this is what war must be like in storybooks, if he could properly read them; the power of fragile, tiny mortal things somehow triumphing against something as ancient and powerful as a god, all their bombastic final blows punctuated with victory cries, witty threats, wise words and final promises. They are the portrait of heroes. They belong in this story, in the portrait they've made, as they deliver an ancient deity to its last resting place.

Askr, however, is unsure of where he falls in this.

He is tired. He has no words of glory to offer, no rallying cry, no brilliance to shine upon the battlefield; he is tired, his body heavy with exhaustion he has no right to complain of, his nerves frayed and the reserves of magic in his veins steadily dwindling away. Keeping Yggdrasil in the air takes more effort than it should, now, and as the moments trickle by, he finds his thoughts wandering from the magmatic battlefield spanning out before him, drifting away to kinder things, to kinder people, to kinder moments he hasn't earned.

It's almost over.

But only almost.

Combat has always been his first language, the dialect he could understand without issue, and yet for once he yearns for other things-- seashells and sea glass on a moonlit beach, a walk through cobblestone streets, the warmth of the sun and a hand in his. It is wrong. He should not think of such things, especially not here and now, and yet the thought gives him enough strength to lift Yggdrasil once more, the strength to aim it, ready to send it to strike a God down. [1] [2]

It is almost over, and when it is, he can go see Zarius and Caedes and whoever else may be waiting for him, and his unbeating heart will know warmth the same way it did on the moon-chilled sands and the sunlit streets of the first summer he knew love.

It's almost over.

Almost.

---

Summary: Askr yeets Yggdrasil for one final time at Vulcadreus and bonks it twice

1. Yggdrasil Slash One {Offensive Action}

2. Yggdrasil Slash Two {Offensive Action}

Passives:

1/2 hit preventions

Telekinesis (on Yggdrasil)

Shoot, shoot, why, hi, and huggies. (Will fluff after homework)

---

NPCs:

Nitin Ashwood- Earth domain Apprentice
Finhad Ashwood- Warlord: Blade Novice
Rosemary- Water pixie (Does not count to NPC Cap)

Pets:

Carminda-songbird griffon (Does Not Count against Pet Cap)

All staying in Front side

---

Offensive Action: Shoot Ray Bow at spot where Ulrich hit
Offensive Action: Shoot Ray Bow at spot where Ulrich hit

NPC Actions:
Nit- Support: Watching the fight and contemplating life
Rosemary- Support: Water Fae magicked Keyke
Fin- Support: Release Taki and join the others once again

Pet Actions:
Carminda- Support: Hug Keyke after her shots at the Dragon

---

Passives:
Bulls Strength Tattoo

SPOILER: Click to show

This tattoo increases your normal strength, making you twice as strong as you normally would. This is a latent tattoo that is always in effect, making you permanently strong. This tattoo does not stack with itself or other strength buffing items.

Veiled Sunhat

SPOILER: Click to show

A sunhat popularized in the deserts of Zeinav; this hat is veiled by translucent sheer fabric around its rim which falls down to the wearer's shoulders. The veil blocks both sand and sun from hitting the wearer's face. While wearing this hat, your sight is unaffected by particles such as snow, sand, or silt.

Necklace of Animal Speech

SPOILER: Click to show

A brown piece of cord or leather with silver designs of animals and vegetation etched into it. While worn this necklace allows its wearer to speak to animals as if they could speak common. This could be birds, cats, bears, any natural animal. This does not let you speak to summoned creatures by magical means, and speaking to an animal owned by someone else will not grant you any special features from them.

Mask of Memories

SPOILER: Click to show

A wooden mask etched with images of moons and stars, painted to look like the night. For as long as you are wearing this mask, you can not be made to forget anything, or have your mind cleared, wiped or erased. Your memories can not be read, altered or affected in anyway.

Dark Lantern

SPOILER: Click to show

A lantern developed for use by sentries in the Dark lands so that they could observe their surroundings without being betrayed by a light source. This lantern has been enchanted so that it will only provide light to the person that holds it; to everyone else it will simply appear dark and useless.

Space Pocket

SPOILER: Click to show

This is a passive spell that is always active after purchase. You now have access to a small pocket of space in which you can store any and all of your items. This pocket exist in its our domain and can only be accessed by you. You can access this pocket by simply reaching into space, pulling out anything that is stored in that pocket. The pocket can hold any amount of items but can not hold anything larger than your own person. Living creatures can not be stored in this pocket.

Ice Skates

SPOILER: Click to show

A unique metal attachment that can be fitted to any kind of shoe or boot. Two thin, metal blades are built into the shoe, able to be popped out or popped back in by clicking the sides of the shoes together. When summoned, these thin blades will be coated in a very thin veil of ice, allowing the user to skate across solid surfaces such as earth and stone. The blades can also be used as weapons when kicking.

As Vail, or rather his passenger, charges towards the dragon, he notices the beast begin to open its massive jaw. A deafening roar rings out but doesn’t deter him from his path. The heat grows more intense with each meter he closes, but his protection continues to hold. Despite the immunity granted by his prior spellcasting, the sheer power contained within the dragon is likely to cause a great deal of damage to his mortal form. Luckily, his fellow adventurers have ready counterattacks of their own and chains quickly wrap around the dragon’s head, sealing its maw and any attack brewing within. While this was successful in restraining the beast, it was clear that the chains weren't going to hold long against the beast's unbearable heat. This would be the decisive moment, the one that determines whether these mortals decide their own fate or fall victim to the whims of supposed gods.

Vail strikes at the side of the dragon’s head, kicking it in its new, energy-based eyeball^[1]. His actions are not for himself but rather the numerous adventurers also rising towards the head.
With his damage dealt, he flies underneath the chin, looking up at the amorphous flesh as moves chaotically, barely containing the potential lying within.

It’s time for you to fade away. All that energy, all that life, it doesn’t belong to you. So many yearn for this experience, and you have no right to deny them. We will take it from you, this rebirth, by our own hands. After all, that’s how we have always lived; Taking from those who would cast us aside.

A beam erupts from Vail’s arms as he descends parallel to the dragon's underbelly, starting from underneath its head^[2]. Even after shedding its stone exterior, the dragon is still immense; he focuses on his speed as he travels down, pushing his wings to their maximum speed while letting gravity benefit his descent. The beam holds true as his energy clashes against the swirling energy beneath the beast’s translucent skin. As he reaches the start of the tail, he breaks off of his path, moving through the searing flames as avoids the whip-like appendage.

---

Summary: Vail dive kicks the dragon in the eyeball four times. He then uses the Art of the Soul beam along the dragon's underbelly as he flies from the head to the tail. (There is no mention of having to hold still while casting the beam.)

Offensive actions:

[1] Four dive kicks to the dragon's eyeball. (Holy enchantment + double strike + two-piece)

[2] Casts Art of Soul Beam as he flies along the dragon's underbelly (Speed aided by dashing enchantment + Gwen's Grand Censor.)

SPOILER: Click to show

Art of the Soul - Some monks ignore the elemental energy of the world around them and instead harness their own raw spirit. You enter a unique trance for the next three post, increasing the range of all your martial attacks by ten feet. When you make an attack with a melee attack, such as a punch or sword slice, a wave of spiritual energy will be released from the attack, allowing the attack to become ranged. Once during this duration, you can channel all of the spiritual energy to fire out a 20 foot long beam of raw energy. This will end the Art early but will prevent any one struck by the beam from using spells or class abilities for their next post.

Active effects:
[3/3] Divine Ascent

[2/2] Soft Body

[1/3] Art of the Soul

[1/2] Resist the Elements - Fire

Active passives:

Ravager's Mark (Bulls Strength Tattoo) - double strength
Two Piece - Kicking the eye again.
Double Strike Enchantment (Bare hands) - And again and again.
Holy Enchantment (Bare hands) - Holy damage + ally trust.

Dashing enchantment (Bare hands) - Moving along the beast's whole body at max speed.

Controlled Immunity - poison/toxic reduction

Divine Ascent - Immense amount of light being produced by the wings.

Increased Speed and Spell range from Gwendolyn's Grand Censer.

Aagha toned out the ringing in his ears as a result from the physical pain he was in taking in a deep breath. He had two more shots in him and they would be taken toward the massive beast. Hopefully his physical attacks wouldn't prove entirely ineffective at the end of all things. This had taught him something. He needed a magic armament or perhaps some sort of spell work of his own. He was vaguely aware in the back of his mind that once upon a time he had been able to at least muster winds, but it was a path he had chosen not to tread previously. This taught him that there were things in the would that wouldn't bend to his physical attacks and he needed to have back up plans. He took in a deep breath as he pulled back his bow string.

"Hold it Aagha. Take your time. You don't have to be in a rush to release this time. Look before you at all the others who have chosen to take part in this battle too. Take note of them. Each and every one of these faces are ones you should remember. Perhaps a few you have even known before. Let your arrows remain true." The lion couldn't manage anything more. Some subtle words of encouragement were all it had left in it for now.

Once aagha treaded to a distance he was confident enough he could make the shot from, he knocked an arrow this time. Now he pulled his string back and held his breath straightening his body. Form was everything for the next two shots. He released the first and didn't hesitate to knock the second arrow. He fired yet another to the beast. This was the best he could do for now. Upon the second arrow being unleashed, aagha once again put away his bow and made his way back to Boromir.

"Hopefully this will be enough to end it."

---

2/2 Actions: Arrows launched toward the dragon

Javal’s eyes widened as he heard Vulcadreus’s powerful roar. It filled him with a large feeling of excitement. This was it, this was what being an adventurer meant.



He looked around him, noticing the plants growing and dying at a quick rate. This dragon wasn’t kidding when he said he was the god of rebirth. That did bring up the question in Javal’s mind of what the consequences were going to be for killing the person in charge of life and death. However, thinking that it didn't matter to Javal he and the rest of Charon would figure it out later, he hoped at least.



“This is our chance to take this tyrant down guys let’s do this”, Javal shouts as loud as he can to all his fellow adventurers.



He then turns to face the return of his dear friend from revival as Arashi flies next to him and tells him his plan with a huge grin.





“I’m all game for that Arashi”, he says excitedly he then holds out his hand to summon a portal of the ocean (1) on top of Arashi’s forming tornado creating a large electrifying waterspout.



After he finished helping Arashi he watched over his best friend as he jumped down. He had a smile on his face as he waved Kamille goodbye, “Bye Kamille see ya in a bit” and jumped off and headed straight down.



He then as he is dropping through the air starts whirling his blades around in a rhythmic series of movements charging his whirling double slash and shouting, “Javal Style: Aqua Holy Anvil”, and hits Vulcadreus with his current strongest move attacking as Flint attacks.



Caspian hovers in the air decently far away from Vulcadreus and he and Shimmer aim a sticky-covered Ice Spike attack.



Nadia fires another shot of Ray Bow while Meryl steers the flying rug close to Vulcadreus.

---

Summary: Javal uses portal of seven seas to help Arashi make waterspout. Jump off Kalaf behind Flint use Blade Dance strike on Vulcadreus. Caspian fires Ice Spike, Shimmer fires sticky substance, Nadia fires off Ray Bow.

Passives: Bull's Strength, Angelic Light, Water Rune

Bound by magic designed to fell gods, Vulcadreaus is immobilized long enough for the army of adventurers to unleash everything they have in a desperate last effort to defy the revived god.

Taking inspiration from another’s earlier action, an adventurer summons a second tornado which further drags batters and limits the dragon’s mobility. Summoned water enhances the whirlwind, turning it into a cyclone that rips apart the wing of fire. A bolt of lightning further amplifies the devastating power of the cyclone as crackles of electricity ripple through it. The wind from the other tornado buffers the flames, giving a split moment of protection to another adventurer who rips through the wing’s flames with dark claws.

In a truly desperate move, one adventurer binds themselves to the god to deal a devastating attack to its core, taking themselves out in the process as the god is simultaneously bombarded with countless attacks from all sides. 

One adventurer takes a different approach and connects with the god. As it receives a devastating amount of damage, it shares with them a vision.

Images of endless oceans stretch out before them, the sun rises and falls at a breakneck speed while clouds form and storms pass. Then from the ocean rises steam and angry red light as magma breaches the surface. The mass grows and grows before it cools to solid stone. Then the sides of the new landmass turn green with plant life. First grasses and herbs, then bushes, then trees. Then the animals arrive, birds first followed by swimming mammals and reptiles.

Time passes quickly, and then suddenly there are huts, followed by buildings, walls, and ports. The ships start as small fishing vessels and rafts before they become large galleons setting off across the horizon. Storms batter the town now grown into a mighty city. Ships out at sea sink to storms, monsters, and conflicts with other ships.

Then the tremors start, and the mountain peaks glow red with angry light once more. Some manage to flee before fire rains from the sky as lava pours down the volcano’s slopes. Rising from that volcano is a familiar sight of an obsidian-clad dragon. Responding to its appearance are many brave souls brandishing armor and weapons of various kinds.

This whole disaster. This whole fight. It was still all part of the cycle.

Vulcadreaus had faced adventurers before, many times in fact. Sometimes it was triumphant and then proceeded to reduce the land to ashes before disappearing back into the sea far off on the horizon. Other times, it was felled, but it still returned all the same after enough time had passed.

The adventurer sees civilizations rise and fall, wars ravage the lands, and whole groups of people both fear and revere the dragon. The adventurer sees the sacrifices, the rituals, and then…nothing. Everything just stops as if time itself freezes in place. And it stays that way for what feels like an eternity, a feeling not unlike those who faced Zeiv and felt his power for themselves. The stillness…it’s terrifying.

Time resumes and the adventurer is back in the present, staring down the god of destruction and rebirth as the cycle begins anew with its own destruction.

Arrows and punches rain down on the creature's head, targeting anything that resembles vulnerable organs. From above, sharp, elongated claws oozing with acid rake across the dragon’s head, weakening its form even further as the chains hold it from avoiding the strike.

Suddenly, there's an explosion of ice that bursts forth and pierces through the god’s malleable form. This is followed by a beam of ethereal light that streaks across the battlefield from an unexpected source and strikes the dragon’s head. All the focused attacks on its head result in it bursting which frees the adventurer still trapped within.

The chains holding the dragon’s head now have nothing left to coil around as the neck rears back and flops loosely in the air. Somehow, even without an identifiable head, it still moves and thrashes. The massive dragon struggles, straining against the remaining arcane chains that prevent its escape.

With no time to waste, three adventurers take to the air with a plan for a coordinated strike on the monstrous creature’s exposed neck as it reels back. The falling knight’s blade boosted by the magic of another carves a deep gouge down the length of its neck, splitting the plasma-like matter just as a beam, a hammer smash, and an explosion from the inside burst it open further, sending burning hot liquid splattering everywhere. Another pair of adventurers have the same idea, and risk their bodies and lives to slam down on the decimated remains of the dragon’s neck and drive the damage down further, and further until they split open the chest cavity.

Another beam strikes into the dragon’s chest, punching a hole in its side from below, while bursts of ice slam into the dragon’s exposed chest, dimming the light it radiates as energy is sapped away from its form. More adventurers pile on the damage, striking the exposed chest cavity with supercharged lightning and dark bursts of energy. One adventurer flies under the massive creature's belly to tear through its underside as all the groups' efforts strive for one thing and one thing only: protecting Charon. 

When all is done, the god's form is hardly recognizable. The head, gone. The neck, flailed open and curled back like a banana peel. The chest, gorged out and dripping hot glowing ooze. The wings, torn to shreds. 

A moment passes, and all is still. The chains still hold, but flicker as the duration of their conjuring comes to an end. 

Then the god’s form starts to destabilize. It fractures and tears, breaks, and collapses in on itself. The cumulative damage takes its final toll and rips the primordial magic maintaining its form apart. Those with close ties to the arcane feel the bonds break. Those with strong connections to the earth feel its anger subside. 

Something reaches out to each and every adventurer as they bear witness to what they have wrought. An odd sensation. A feeling. 

Acceptance.

A strange sound rises from the crumbling form of the god. A sound that…is oddly melodic, and it grows. It swells and echoes out across the landscape. An odd lullaby, ancient and without recognizable words, but gentle and soothing.

Motes of light lift off from the larger pieces of what remains of the god. They float into the air and scatter off into the clouded sky. It’s almost beautiful, like thousands of fireflies carried off by the wind. Bit by bit, the god's form disappears. Some of the motes touch the earth and from where they land, more plants begin to sprout. 

The earth, for the first time in generations, becomes still. The restless volcano is finally able to sleep peacefully as the lullaby drifts through the air. Then the lullaby grows quiet and all becomes still. 

---

Damage dealt to PCs and NPCs:
Leandros Aurthurian : -2 devoted spirit hit preventions (fire)
Cyran Fenastra-Asiliari : ALL THE WOUNDS. SO MANY WOUNDS. THIS MAN IS A MESS. CYRAN IS UNCONSIOUS.
Flint Caldwell : +1 Major wound (fire)
Lady Astrid Stormstone : -2 armor hit preventions (fire)
Javal Zarrias : -2 armor hit preventions (fire)

The deadline to get your FINAL CONCLUDING reply in for this event is September 17th, 11:59 pm ET

For a moment, Ube stood in silence over the decimated god. Head still buzzing from all that adrenaline. The black claws lingered a bit, still ready for combat as a momentous calm washed over the battlefield. Its... its over?...

The answer came in the form of the god's body turning into balls of light. There was fear in their heart. The fellblood fully expected this to be a new form before they fell to the ground, the loss of a steady footing moving away in the wind. They lied there, looking up with a blank expression as the motes danced through the air. 

A feeling welled-up from within, one they haven't felt in the longest of times: Joyous exhaustion and a wonderful sense of pride. Whatever this thing was that threatened Charon, its gone. Hopefully gone for good but... Ube didn't want to think about future problems. Cebu came flying down, dancing among the balls of light before she touched down on the fellblood's chest. She cooed in celebration, knowing that the threat is gone.

That gleeful smile formed. Wide it was, practically grinning ear to ear before the fellblood started laughing. They didn't care who heard nor who was watching them as their laugh grew louder. This was a literal hell, one everyone here managed to overcome. Well, they hoped everyone did. Ube sat up and surveyed their surroundings, a little worried now if everyone did in fact make it through this ordeal.

Skippy looked down at the melting mass and began to harumph. What! I didn’t even get to fight anything! What a rip! With that, the Lion Dragon jumped onto a nearby mound of leftover dragon and starts trying to eat the lightning bugs by the mouthful. Suddenly, Skippy stops and spits a mass of flowers and ferns onto the ground. Blerg! Shaa laughs at his antics and hops down on the ground next to him. Was it over, he scanned the aftermath carefully.

Despite the beauty of the world that was starting to emerge, it had come at a terrible cost. Several fighters had been damaged and some, it seemed, gravely. In the distance, he sees Leandros and rushes over to check on him, Skippy bounding behind him still spitting out bits of greenery onto the ground. Lee looks a bit battered but in otherwise good condition. Hey man, looks like the fighters guild represented pretty well. Even some of the former ones. Shaa looked over at Astrid and smiled. She was short but she was tough. He was glad to see she made it through. I ATE FLOWERS! Screamed Skippy still perturbed about the whole situation. I’m still going to check around a bit to make sure there aren’t anymore surprises waiting for us. Let’s compare notes later.

Shaa walked around and found more familiar faces and several more that he didn’t recognize. Despite the carnage, he had an overwhelming sense of peace flood through him. The earth was here and he loved it. He could still feel the power spreading as far as he could sense it. 

Shaa and Skippy hop back on the cloud and cruise away from the scene  From the sky they can see a couple of people have gathered around. Moving down to see what was happening, he catches a good look at the person standing next to a prostrate body. It was a woman who looked vaguely familiar. Landing on the ground he asks Del. Hey don’t I know you from something? As he considers it, he looks more closely at the body. Shaa catches his breath and he recognizes the badly battered and burned form of his friend Cyran. Shaa was no healer, usually quite the opposite. He kneeled down next to his friend and got to work with his best field medic skills. Working on the major wounds and cuts, he prioritizes the larger wounds. Doing everything he can, he looks to others to fill in the obvious gaps in his skill. His last maneuver, he casts a spell to remove any remaining conditions that stitches wouldn’t touch. Skippy walks over and spits a small daisy on Cyran’s head. Not helping man.

---

Small Medical Kit
Remove Condition- on Cyran

Skippy- spit with a mysterious flower…probably does nothing

It is hard to process the feeling of watching a god die by your hands. As much as he wants to feel elated, it's hard to feel anything besides the burning pain and exhaustion in his muscles. The knight stands on the cloud as they make their way back to the ground just catching his breath. His neck bears a few flash burns from the heat of Vulcadreus and his hands sting with the lightning that just coursed through his halberd.

There was barely any strength in his body, but for any adventurer looking across the battlefield Leandros stepped off the cloud and onto solid ground looking unbent and unbroken. These were all warriors and fighters...people who put their life on the line and were willing to die for Charon, yet instinct kicked in and he felt the burden solely on his shoulders to keep everyone together.

The Lion of the Landing makes his way to some of the rubble and climbs on top to get a bit higher and draw attention to himself. He slams the butt of his halberd on the rock to try and draw attention to himself, ready to make a speech, ready to make one last defiant roar to Vulcadreus.

"ADVENTURERS OF CHARON, I KNOW MANY OF YOU MAY NOT KNOW ME, BUT I AM HONORED TO HAVE STOOD WITH ALL OF YOU HEAR TODAY. WHEN LEADERS AND RULERS FAIL, THE ADVENTURERS OF CHARON WILL STILL STAND TOGETHER TO PROTECT THIS WORLD AND ALL WE HAVE COME TO CARE FOR. WE WILL STAND TOGETHER TO END THE CYCLES OF DESTRUCTION WOULD-BE GODS SEEK TO FORCE UPON US. WE WILL STAND TOGETHER TO PROTECT OUR WAY OF LIFE RATHER THAN BOW TO THEIRS. DO NOT FORGET WHAT WAS ACCOMPLISHED HERE TODAY, WHAT WAS ACCOMPLISHED TOGETHER."

He raises the halberd and points it to the disappearing mass of Vulcadreus, "REMEMBER THIS AS THE PROOF OF THE STRENGTH IN YOUR HEARTS, THE STRENGTH OF CHARON."

Leandros relaxes his halberd arm and steps off the boulder. He gives a small nod to Ulrich, a concerned look towards Del and Cyran but when Del signals she has it handle he reluctant keeps going. Leandros lets out a soft whistle as he finally gets some space, finally reconnecting with Byrr after a few moments.

He smiles brightly and pats the horse's neck as it neighs and knocks at his shoulder, getting a small wince from the knight as the burns went deep.

"I know, I know, Apogee won't let me out of the bed for the next month I imagine...Bed rest will do better than magical healing hm?" The horse gives a little huff and flutters his head.

Leandros smiles again as he starts to holster his halberd in the saddle-side scabbard he had made, "And you're one to talk Byrr. Are those burns I see?"

<insert conversation with Askr>

    Gwendolyn regained consciousness midway through her fall once more. It was becoming a problem of concerning repetition at this point, and unfortunately her weapons weren’t coming to her rescue this time. Looking up as her hair flailed wildly, the god nearly unrecognizable, and an odd feeling of calm came over her. Exhaustion turned into relief, the fight was truly over. They had won.



    She thought over the last couple of months as she fell. Adventures, People, Loved ones. Each flashed before her eyes as she fell. It was a long call from the girl who had been thrown out to the world by her father two years ago. She smiled, it would be just fine if this were her last act in this world. To help slay a god, and collapse in it’s ashes would be a noble death indeed. Gwendolyn Mystwud closed her eyes, and spread her arms, and continued plummeting towards the ground. Accepting of her fate.

Blue swooped around and flew back toward the dragon, ready to attack it again, but the fight was already coming to an end. As everyone dogpiled the dragon, hitting it with everything they had, Blue saw the head burst open and a figure start to fall through the air.

"Oh, it's Gwen!" Blue said to themself as they dove down to catch her on their back. "Gwen! I was looking for you! Where've you been?" Blue asked casually as they felt the weight of Gwen bounce on their back once before latching on to the sticky feathers and what was left of the metal plates of their armor.

As they flew around, they saw another familiar face careening toward the ground and swooped to catch her as well.

"Astrid! I got you!" Blue said cheerfully as they felt a second weight bounce on their back next to Gwen. They hoped she wouldn't look at how messed up their armor had gotten int hat fight. They'd have to ask her to make some replacement parts later.

Flying in the air, Blue looked down at the disintegrating form of the dragon god. They'd all fought hard and won. They really beat it. There was only one lingering disappointment for the ooze. They hadn't gotten to eat any of it! The dragon had been just too spicy for them to get a bite of it. Just getting near had made their armor start to melt. As a small consolation prize, the big bird opened their mouth as they flew and tried to swallow one of the motes of light drifting up to the clouds.

Del does not see the sundering of Vulcadreus as she runs, her fiancee held carefully in her arms. She does not need to look to know what is happening behind her; through their bond, Del can feel each shudder inducing impact of every blow on the reborn god as it passes through the spell that tied the god to him, and suppresses a sob for each. It is agony to ot stop now and administer the potion she knows he keeps on his person here and now, but she knows she must wait until it's over, and damn all the gods old and new, but it HAD to end, it had to.

In a terrible stroke of irony, one that fogged her vision with tears as she ran, Del knew she could not revive Cyran until Vulcadreus was destroyed.

Feet hitting the ground in a steady heart-beat tempo, she picks up the pace, though the crater is enormous. Running was a thing she had done for decades-- it was a safety measure. It was a guarantee of survival. She had sworn not so long ago that she was no longer going to run from anything. Was she doing that again, now, staving off the inevitable? Maybe if she can get further, further, further, she can buy that time. Keep him with her.

Holding Cyran close, Del shudders as another blow bleeds through the connection, as if letting him go in this moment meant losing him.

And then-- it's over.

It pulses through the ground and the magic binding Vulcadreus to Cyran releases. Del gasps and looks back around. People are falling out of the sky. She feels a sense of elation at the sight, but it's quickly overtaken by a sudden burst of the need to act.

"Hold on, love," she whispers, picking up the pace. Away, away, somewhere safe. She barely sees Leandros' regal and imposing form looking her way, lingering in what she can only assume is her direction. Giving him a wild-eyed look, she shakes her head and presses on. She can hear his speech, his lions roar carry. Astrid is being caught by something blue mid-fall, Javal seemed to be busy with the same task, everyone else in their various states of wear and tear, near as Del can see, are alive and well. A joyous thing that was. They were only missing one soul.

Far enough away now, she slides behind a piece of the mountain, a large jagged chunk of rock that provides some refuge from... what elements, she doesn't know. Del is not thinking right now; only one thing matters. Del lays Cyran down carefully, as gingerly as she can given his wounds. Unconcious though he is, "Please. Please come back to me." she begs, leaning over him as she pats his frock carefully to locate the little vial of clear blue liquid. Having what she nees, her gaze turns to the knife in his chest. Del wavers for a moment, looking down at Cyran, her engagement knife sticking out of his heart. She had to pull it out. Removing it might kill him, but leaving it in definitely would.


It takes a second to steel herself, but she cannot afford to wait-- his life hangs in the balance. Leaning down, Del kisses his forehead. "I love you, and if I fail you here, I will find you in the next life." Del murmurs. Closing her eyes tight, she puts one hand on the bloody hilt of the dagger. "I'm sorry." pulls it free in one smooth motion, before quickly casting it aside.

Wasting no time, Del bringing the potion of the True North to his lips, letting the cold water (the quench, Crucible, the quench) trickle over his tongue, to prevent him from choking should he begin to breathe. Once it is emptied, she sits back to watch, fists gripping the fabric of his cloak as she waits for something, anything.

As a song she recognizes deep down in her bones resonates through the land, at last the wound on his chest begins to close, Del bows her head to his shoulder and sobs her relief.

---

Summary: Cyran Fenastra-Asiliari is Healed!

Actions:
Used Cyran's Potion of the True North on Cyran

Cyran’s fall to unconsciousness was not a swift or merciful one.

The funny thing about a soul link is that it goes two ways. It is not as simple as merely exerting your will onto another. It is opening a door, a dialogue, a conversation.

And Vulcadreus was not willing to let Cyran go without showing him the futility of this resistance one last time.

And once more, Cyran found himself subjected to a maelstrom of visions, an infinity stretched before and after him that reminded him exactly how… small he was. Wars, battles, conflict, the ugliest sides of humanity played out. In reality, it could not have been more than seconds. But for Cyran there was agony in the eternity of it all. Watching civilizations rise and fall, each one claiming that they could do better than the last, each one meeting the same end. Kings executed for their crimes. Never learning from their mistakes. Never learning from their mistakes. Never learning from their mistakes.

He saw Vulcadreus itself, rising through the eons, a slew of sacrifices in its wake, death to fuel his birth. And Cyran saw the adventurers that rose in opposition to him, the same scene over and over and over again until it grew tired. And was it any wonder that Vulcadreus had not thought much of them, when he’d danced this song and dance countless times before? When he’d heard the rallying cries of the human spirit rise against him to protect their homes, to fall, only to rise again like none of it mattered at all? Everyone here thought themselves the ones who would end the cycle. But they had only pushed it even further.

Vulcadreus would rise again.

So much information that Cyran thought he might choke on it if he weren’t currently choking on the coppery tang of his own blood. Spread out in front of the assassin was a tableau of death, needless death - kingdoms crumbling away to ash and memory that made the seeds for new ones, from the age of creation through wars fought for no reason other than pride. There was life, yes, but through the eyes of an uncaring god it was inconsequential. A lifespan did not matter when it was gone in a blink. But the stain of a death, it lasted forever. That was what the god remembered. That was what Cyran saw. All assaulting his mind like it wished to crack his fragile skull apart, weigh his heart down with grief. He was but a spectator for a brief moment, in the grand scale of the world’s games - and within that, he even saw his own murders woven into the fabric of the cycle. Assassinations carried behind locked doors, piercing blades, a string of them in the specter’s wake. Noble and pauper alike, whatever the job required. Cyran saw the cultists, gray-robed embers that would have made him bare his teeth in hate if he were capable of such a thing. The figures he killed. The cave-in. A different scene, a battle beside allies, meant to bring an end to this once and for all. The figures he killed.

And then he was jolted back to the present, the moment that his own wedding gift pierced his heart in some childish attempt to do… what? Play at being a hero? A cruel joke. Cyran was no such thing, and any attempts at nobility on his own part were nothing more than a man trying on an ill-fitting cloak. He’d done what he thought was right, but that was a decision made with a mortal’s scope of the world. Vulcadreus was not merely physical form. He was returning to the earth, the very primordial energy humans used to cast their spells, the very plants growing beneath them, the blood seeping into the dirt, the magma of the volcanoes. Everywhere, and nowhere. Always bringing death where it went.

It just.

Needed.

To.

Stop.

And as he reached the present, Cyran was jolted into an eternity once more, a prison of a different nature. Endless stillness, and quiet. Yes. He had experienced this once before. And it was funny, how certain an eternity could make one on the decisions they’d reached. Plenty of time to mull it over in his mind until it was numb from the thought, until it was overtaken with the gnawing fear that he’d not actually survived this conflict at all.

And was that not the ultimate punishment? He’d toyed with fate, so brazenly declaring that he’d wanted to live once more while plunging the stake in his heart. It had to come to an end somehow. An end in this void, nothing but himself and his wordless apologies, for Del and Caedes and Zarius and Marlow………………..

Until the breath of life once stolen from his lungs was returned.

The harsh burning sensation of a familiar potion spread through his body - eyes flew open, a shuddering, pained gasp as he took in air. Where was he? This seemed to be Darkveil, but in the absence of ash in the sky, it was difficult to tell. A flower rested delicately on his face, one that fluttered to the ground next to him with a gentle movement.That was secondary to the gentle weight bearing down on him, though. Wracked sobs, a wetness on his shoulder. Cyran blinked, weary, dry lips parting in wonder. He’d known she would not leave him, that she’d make use of the potion she knew he carried on his person, but he would not have blamed her if she’d decided to leave him, either. What a gift, her care was.

His entire body ached like it had been run over by a carriage, but that did not matter. He had something more important to do, with ever fiber of his being. Still lain down on the ground, rocks digging into his back and the sound of celebration in the distance - they’d carried the day a peace that would not last - he reached up with a trembling hand, so, so, tired, but so determined to do what he wanted them to. Wrapped his fingers in her curls, angling his head to press a kiss to the back of hers. Everything hurt. He was alive. Del had saved him.

And he could not help but laugh, a sound of joy and incredulity all in one. A deep, hoarse, rumbling sound in the back of his blood-coated throat.

“I told you it would be okay. I’m sorry for worrying you. I love you too.”

And a final whisper, before his voice failed him once more.

“Thank you. My hero.”

---

Stabdad has been healed with no lasting consequences whatsoever! Thank y’all for reading my melodrama lol <3