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Post by Rena Brighteyes on Jun 22, 2024 19:15:56 GMT -5
The young lich gazes out into the valley below, eye lights of shining silver flicking back and forth as she scans the distant ruins of the nearest compound…she remembers when she and Bell stopped there for a day or two as they’d been making their way out of the Valley…it was occupied by the…the Razorbeak clan, she thinks. Stars, it’s been so many years since then, and yet…and yet Fimbulwinter still rages, the clouds still thick and swirling, the wind still whipping and biting, the snow still falling, the acrid power of the Hag still thick in the frigid air…but…it’s weaker. There’s no blinding fog anymore, the wind is a whistle rather than a roar, the cold isn’t enough to induce bone deep frostbite…the lich takes a slow, unneeded breath, savoring the sharp chill of the frigid air in her lungs as she tries and fails to keep from remembering the frozen bodies they’d found in each compound they’d passed through during their escape…and she knows in her unbeating heart that if those bodies are still then it’s more due to a lack of prey than anything else. She’d been the test case, after all; her gnawing hunger little more than a prototype component for a grander, more terrible curse…the lich shakes her head, clearing away that particular train of thought, then turns back to return to camp. It’s almost morning, after all, and while she couldn’t sleep - the blood on her talons shrieks with the voices of all the lives she cut short during her years here - her bondmates and children are far more fortunate…but, well, morning is coming, and the children will need to eat soon. Well, three of them will. The other three are, like their father and bab'sk, sustained off her own twisted power, so while the hungry blackness that clings to their bones allows them to consume and enjoy food, they don't need any...it's been a bit more draining than usual, sustaining herself and her three undead children on magic alone, but it means the food they've packed, foraged, and hunted will stretch far longer than it would otherwise...
...the lich smiles softly to herself as she sets about lighting the cookfire so she can heat up the morning meal for her living children...fried grubs again today. Lightweight, hearty and delicious, all in all nearly perfect for the trip they've been on for the last few weeks...
...back in the tent, the children are all bundled up in warm winter clothes and nestled against each other, their spectral parents, and their skeletal parent to be, still soundly asleep…the sun will rise soon, though the family will hardly notice the difference in this frozen hell, and they’ve reached the final - and most difficult - leg of the expedition…the lich just hopes that the Hag is either elsewhere or asleep…who knows how that vile creature might react to her escaped playthings returning…
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Post by Beak on Jun 23, 2024 0:37:10 GMT -5
This is it. The entire family had been talking about this for what felt like ages, but now it was happening. Now they were here.
They'd done all they could to prepare. Beak had purchased a second tent should the first get overcrowded, miscellaneous digging supplies, and a pendant that, when the magic within was activated, glowed with enough light to serve as a hands-free torch. It had once been a ring, actually, but Bell had been kind enough to convert it into something with a very small chain--just enough to wear around her neck vertebrae--and hang just against the inside of her upper ribcage. That way, her cloak would ensure the light was projected forward, like the hood of a lamp, and only forward. From what she'd been told about this place, it... wouldn't do, to announce the group's presence to too many people in every direction.
She still could scarcely believe they were doing this. It's... well, how long has she been dating these lovely corvids, now? It feels like each one of the children have asked when she's going to bond with the others already, and she has to admit she rather enjoys the idea. So... of course they were going to lead her here, when she suggested that there might be Ibekki relics to be found... something that could help her with her ultimate goal of learning the ways of her own people, attaining the education in customs and rites and rituals to call herself Gri'kka1 that she never could in life.
And of course they'd be especially motivated to return to the Raven Queen's Archives when the site held so much significance for their own people, as well. Beak knew for a fact that she was not the only person on this expedition here to reconnect with her roots.
But... still. It's such a long journey, and so cold, and so dangerous... they would put themselves through this... for her? Truly? If that wasn't "propose bondmate status as soon as this is all over" material, then she wasn't sure what was.
The elder skeleton is... a peculiarity, even among a family of undead. That she's a skeleton and doesn't need to eat is no major anomaly; there are three others in this party who could say the same. But all the skeletons and ghosts of the Blackfeather clan seemed to sustain themselves on Rena's magic, Beak drew her unlife from... where did she draw her unlife from? As far as she can remember, she just... woke up, one day, and she's been like this ever since.
She doubted that particular mystery would be answered in the Archives, though. She was here to find out anything she could about her people while they still lived, not... after.
1 "Chief," roughly. The spiritual and political leader of the Ibekki people.
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Post by Rena Brighteyes on Jun 23, 2024 3:55:13 GMT -5
Rena glances up, letting out a pleased trill as she sees her girlfriend stepping out of the tent, her eye lights shimmering with gentle affection as she smiles and chirps a soft, “...mornin’, love,” the young lich steps away from the cookfire, a quick flick of her fingers causing a silhouette of abyssal darkness1 to take her place preparing breakfast for the living chicks before stepping close and pulling Beak into a hug, her anxiety and fear becoming evident as the embrace rapidly transitions into the silver eyed crow clinging to the skeleton…
…this…this place was her home for two decades, but…even the brightest memories have been tainted by association with the decrepit faery that had come to prey on the Corvids of the Valley - she can still feel the Hag’s gnarled hands opening her up, reaching in to pluck out her heart and replace it with the thing of black ice that’s sat in her chest ever since - so perhaps it’s understandable that she’s starting to get jittery the closer they get to their goal…
…the children let out soft, sleepy chirps as they slowly stir, roused by the smell of breakfast and braving the icy chill of the world outside the cuddle pile in its pursuit…
Nev and Bell yawn and stretch as they step out of the tent, the spirits largely unaffected by the frigid wind, but still…distinctly uncomfortable. The Valley of Crows holds bad memories for all three of them, but…they’re here regardless. They’re here for a reason. As Bell cracks his neck and rolls his shoulders, Nev gravitates toward Rena and Beak, cooing softly and laying a gentle hand on the lich’s shoulder, “...it’ll be fine, love. We’ll make sure of it,” and then the wraith turns Rena’s own words against her, albeit slightly altered, “...these ones shall thrive”
1 - Summon: Major Minion
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Post by Beak on Jun 23, 2024 5:27:14 GMT -5
These ones shall thrive.
It's not unusual for the Blackfeathers to get the Beak so flustered that she becomes speechless, that she just... stands there for a few moments, attempting to process all the... well, the closest a psychic skeleton can get to blushing. Not unusual at all--the poor dear is very clearly smitten with her istirii1 easily flustered as a result. Her "shutdowns" do seem to be lasting a few moments longer as of late, as if she has more on her mind than usual, but... well. Flattering her until she just... freezes? That's just Beak being Beak. Has anyone actually been timing how long it takes her to un-freeze enough to notice a change in the pattern?
Besides, to cite that one... stars above. The induction. The newest Blackfeather children, Somber Humb and Morning Chimes, are fully recognized members of the Ibekki tribe, their names recorded in the great book-beyond-the-stars, their entire lives before them to fill its awaiting celestial pages. Her tribe... lives. There are members of it besides her. And they let her do this, and it meant enough to them too for them to even be reciting those lines again... she only isn't crying because it's too realms-damned cold.
She has to thank Bell once again for fixing up her ashkeeper, though, speaking of. Sure, she'd managed to get it looking like new after cleaning away three thousand years of rust--ashkeepers are built to last--but the lacquering it so that doesn't happen again was a brilliant idea, and so was upgrading the old and cheap band she had for it into the sturdier pendant-like charm she now wears around her neck vertebrae, next to that ring of light.
"Morning, my dear." She glances around, completely unsurprised by the weather. More snow again! Who would have thought that an undending eternal blizzard would be so... unending and eternal?
"How are you faring?" She's perceptive enough to notice the newly-minted lich is growing nervous... that all of them are, really. And it's not just the hag or her minions; she's seen this clan in action before. She's seen them fight. They can do fights. For something to be affecting them this strongly... there are bad memories here. Traumas. Battles where their only weapons are memories and feelings, not the knives and crossbows to which they're accustomed.
"... We're here for you, love." She returns Rena's embrace every bit as tightly. She's not letting go. She'll never let go.
1 "Beloveds"
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Post by Rena Brighteyes on Jun 23, 2024 13:15:29 GMT -5
“...not…not good,” Rena admits, her typically calm, collected voice wavering and cracking a little, “...kept dreaming I was under the Hag’s knife again…” the lich trails off, pressing into her girlfriend’s embrace with a shudder and burying her face in Beak’s shirt in an effort to ward away the phantom sensation of that dull, chipped knife tearing her open, the feeling of gnarled hands prying open her ribs before reaching in to rip out her hammering heart - ah. She’s spiraling, isn’t she. Her heart - a frozen, stolen core, not hers to take, not the Hags to give - remains motionless in her chest, belying the panic, the fear, the paranoia building in her mind as she struggles to keep calm, or at least to keep her fear from bleeding across the links to the skelechicks…
…Bell and Nev are faring better - Bell had only had to watch the Hunter’s core get slotted into the hole where his wife’s heart used to be, Nev was lucky enough to be slain before the real horrors could start - but they’re still…nervous. Jittery. Their shining eyes ever watchful as they scan their surroundings…
…the children are fortunate to have no memories of this place, even Loci and Whistle, the eldest pair of twins, having been hatched more than a year after their mother had escaped…
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Post by Beak on Jun 23, 2024 14:35:32 GMT -5
The elder skeleton continues to hold her girlfriend tightly, as if it were possible to shield the crow from her own memories and traumas with her body. She even grips parts of her cloak and pulls them with her before wrapping her arms around Rena for the embrace--now looking to all the world like the cloaked skeleton has a crow's head just peeking out from underneath her clothes. It's... maybe not as comforting a gesture as she'd like, as the only thing Rena gets in return is the "pleasure" of being pressed against a very cold and very bony skeleton, but... well. Magic is belief plus intent, as she says. Which is a fancy way of saying it's the thought that counts. Hopefully.
Beak had never asked about this part of Rena's past before; it had always seemed like too painful a topic to broach. And now, she doesn't have to. She's no natural mind-reader; a direct scrying spell isn't in her repertoire. But she does communicate telepathically to compensate for her inability to speak, and the form of telepathy she employs1 leaves the door open for the recipient to answer her mentally via the same channel once it's established. Just as Beak can broadcast the equivalent of subtle emotional cues--something like a smile or a scowl, or something that at least has the same effect, when needed--she's been able to... pick up a few things from others, here and there, when they're turning their own thoughts around particularly loudly while she's talking to them.
"... I am so, so sorry, my love...." is all she can offer in return. It feels inadequate. She wants to protect her girlfriend--protect everyone she loves--like she failed to protect her own people. But these aren't the kinds of monsters she can defeat by punching them... how can she protect anyone from their own memories?
1 Space Domain - Message
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Post by Rena Brighteyes on Jun 23, 2024 15:26:20 GMT -5
Rena shudders a little, eyelids clenching shut as she whimpers softly and presses close, uncaring of the sharply boney nature of her girlfriend as she slowly, slowly calms, shaking gradually slowing to a stop as the gentle pressure of Beak’s embrace proves wonderfully grounding for the young lich. As the horrific memories slowly fade into the back of her mind, Rena presses closer to Beak, slowly relaxing into the skeleton’s embrace before reluctantly pulling away with a wan smile in the ruffling of the feathers around her beak as she lets out an affectionate chirp, “...I…thank you, love…” those silver eye lights shimmer gently as the lich softly nuzzles the skeleton.
Bell and Nev seem to calm as Rena does, their constant scanning of the family’s surroundings slowing before they turn toward and join their bondmate and datemate in the embrace, beaks and talons gently brushing against bone and feathers as they slowly, slowly relax…
…the living chicks are finishing up their breakfast, trilling softly to each other between the last mouthfuls of their morning meal…
…the silhouette of writhing, roiling darkness moves to begin packing up camp, carefully breaking down the tents and rolling them up before putting out the cookfire. And then it carefully slides everything into Rena’s little satchel, the tiny bag somehow managing to contain everything without even stretching1…
1 - Bag of the Infinite
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Post by Beak on Jun 23, 2024 15:55:42 GMT -5
Beak allows the apparition to fold up and store her own supplies, as well... the infinite storage capacity of Rena's satchel is a most welcome help.1
Of course, even if she had any objections--which she doesn't--she certainly wouldn't interrupt this moment to voice them. Right now, Rena is her top concern.
"Always, my dear. I told you... we're here. We're not letting go." She expects this journey to get even more harrowing--both physically and emotionally--before it gets any easier, but she remains undaunted in the bold defiance of that statement. If Rena is brave enough to declare before the book itself that her youngest children Shall Thrive, like it or not, then Beak is brave enough to declare that he will protect the ones he loves. He won't fail again.
Keis bossuk du ruzek, ker bes seztak du ruruzek,2 as the Ibekki expression goes.
Oh. Speaking of old Ibekki sayings. "When we get a little closer to the archives, I have a spell for reading and understanding languages... should help if you find anything written in Ibekki, or I in Ravenstongue, or... anything, really."
That information is completely useless to them now, of course, and she's probably revealed it so over-early that she'll need to say it again when they actually get there. But... well. Just making conversation, in the hopes that it helps to keep her girlfriend grounded.
1 Beak has a tent and a Digging Kit (shovel, pickaxe, etc.) which technically and mechanically are weightless. In flavor, borrowing a bit of extra room in Rena's Bag of the Infinite to hold her tools is a very handy way to explain away the question of why they're weightless. 2 "The (path/road/ground) may be hard, but my feet are harder." An old Ibekki saying for determination or the will to overcome challenges. The warrior class in particular took it more literally with their barefoot training and conditioning.
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Post by Rena Brighteyes on Jun 23, 2024 23:57:04 GMT -5
Once the camp supplies are packed, the apparition hands the bottomless satchel to the lich who conjured it, who carefully ties it back onto her belt before turning to begin fussing over her children, both living and undead. She chirps and trills, smiling as the little ones respond with happy chirps and whistles, softly nuzzling their mother back even as they pull their coats a little tighter about themselves and swarm close to their parents and not-yet-parent with little shivers…
…moving forward is more difficult than any of them would like to admit, for various reasons. Rena still flinches when she catches a particularly strong eddy of the Hag’s acrid power, Bell’s amber eyes are still jittering with nervous energy, and Nev seems to grow a little more withdrawn as they travel into the valley…
…the chicks, on the other hand, look around with wonder, peering at their surroundings with shining eyes as they chirp and trill and coo, though they stick close to their parents, and their shining eyes and eye lights zero in on any movement - snow on the wind, branches rustling, drifts of snow falling from tree branches…
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Post by Beak on Jun 24, 2024 0:24:34 GMT -5
(OOC Note: Hum and Chimes' actions taken with Rena's OOC consent and collaboration.)
Beak, for her part is taking the opportunity to take in the scenery and treat the excursion as a nature hike, gazing around with wonder just as the younglings are, while she still can. She knows how dangerous this place is, but that's why she's savoring every moment where the situation isn't dire yet. Every moment this is just a hike is a good moment. In fact, at times it almost, almost seems peacef- Peep! Peep! Peep peep Peep peep Peep! Peep peep peep!Oh. Right. Shifting around and opening her cloak some, she gazes down at the chicks nesting inside. The group had discussed what to do with the newest additions to the family with regards to this trip, and Rena was adamant that leaving them all alone in the barrow would be even less safe than bringing them along. That and... well, she's a new mother. Even if a sitter could be found, she likely couldn't bear to not be at Hum and Chimes' side. So, silly as it sounded, the most workable solution ended up being... to place them in a carefully constructed nest inside Beak's ribcage, along with some small heating stones. As long as she had her cloak closed, it should keep them warm enough... and, truth be told, Beak appreciated the heat, too. The last time she felt this much warmth inside her chest, she still had a beating heart. "Ah... Rena, dear, I think the little ones are awake...." As if that wasn't incredibly obvious from all the peeping. Yes, thank you, Beak. It's easy enough to tell what Chimes was after; she's likely just hungry. Hum, on the other hand... well, she doesn't have to eat, necessarily, but... more of that magical energy, perhaps? Or does she just want the attention? Her sister is peeping and so she must join in on the festivities? Peeping: The hot new game everyone can play? Not that Beak minds, whatever the reason is. She finds the sound adorable, strangely soothing in this otherwise foreboding land.
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Post by Rena Brighteyes on Jun 24, 2024 1:35:56 GMT -5
Rena is, of course, at Beak’s side almost before the peeping starts, the lich letting out a soft coo and gently reaching to pull the nest down enough for her to pluck up the infant crows, silver eye lights gentle as she softly nuzzles her youngest children before tucking them into a carefully arranged sling beneath her tunic, shivering a little and letting out a soft chirp as she twines her fingers with Beak’s. It…she can’t help but think that she got incredibly lucky in so, so many respects, not the least of which being the simple fact that she can still feed her youngest…and while Hum may not need the sustenance, but it’ll keep the little skeleton content…not to mention the simple fact that Hum and Chimes are both quick to panic whenever separated… The rest of the family shifts formation during the pause, carefully arranging themselves to protect Rena and the little ones concealed under her tunic before the group resumes the trek… …and slowly, Hum and Chimes relax, both the rocking motion of their mother’s movements and their slowly filling bellies gradually soothing them back to sleep… …so perhaps it should come to no surprise that this is when a ragged, frozen, black scaled and jagged taloned hand slams out from a passing snowbank and latches onto Whistle’s ankle before yanking the ruby eyed fledgling off her feet - and then Loci slams his own foot down against the attacker’s wrist, the skeleton’s eye lights blazing with angry, caustic light, his foot gripping tight and squeezing until the frozen flesh gives way with the sound of shattering ice… ...the snowdrifts around the little family begin to shift as four short figures lurch to their avian feet...and the snow falls away from the shambling creatures, revealing frozen eyes, ragged and patchy feathers riddled with frost, cracked and broken beaks, torn and ruined clothes...the nearest of them brandishes the jagged end of its own broken off wrist as they all jerk forward with unnatural speed... Rena tilts her head, eye lights burning to that frigid, caustic white as a flick of the fingers on her free hand - the other occupied with steadying the hatchlings tucked under her tunic - causes a faceless apparition of roiling, hungry darkness to form before darting toward the nearest of the shambling corpses, the jagged shard of crystallized black in its hands lashing out to score a ditch across the thing's throat. The lich speaks, then, "...we called these things the Frostbitten, back when they first started showing up. Fast and strong, with seemingly infinite endurance...but simple enough to outwit. Small groups should pose little threat, so long as we don't get separated..." even as she speaks, a sphere of black ice crystallizes around her just in time to shatter as it deflects a blow from the one handed Frostbitten... And then Whistle is on her feet, twin bayonets slashing through the leg of the corpse that had attempted to strike at her mother, sending the thing toppling onto its back with a crack of fracturing ice... Wind and Wind stick together, the golden eyed fledgling opting to wield one of his bolts like a dagger, driving the steel tipped shaft into the neck of a Frostbitten that jerks into his reach...
Combat Sheet Rena - 0/6 wounds Action - Undying Frenzy - LociAction - Summon: Major Minion Non-action - Movement - Active Effects Mighter than the Sword - 1/5 Summon: Major Minion - 4/4 duration - attacking Weapons Duelist's Feathers - Slashing, Ranged - Doublestrike, Offhand - 40/40 ammo - 1/1 hp Venom Feathers - Piercing, Ranged - Doublestrike, Poison - 40/40 ammo Soulbound Bayonet - Slashing, Reach - Doublestrike, Lifelink, Serrated Rose Urumi - Slashing, Reach - Infinite petals Blackfeather Bayonets - Doublestrike, Dashing Blackfeather Pistols - no enhancements Blackfeather Staff - no enhancements Drake Gland - Ice Defenses Dancing Chain - 0/1 hp - cooling down 0/3 Dancing Chain - 1/1 hp - cooling down 0/3 Abilities Bestial Transformation - 1/1 Guardian Spirit - Caller of Spirits - 0/2 Banner Lord - 2/2 Consume Essence Spell Suspension - 2/2 Multi-Attack - 3/3 Pills of Vitality - 3/3 Quick Palm Lock Pick Undying Frenzy Passives Hired Help - Two for One Enchanting Sigil - Ice Undead Servant - Army of the Damned - Army of the Damned Persistent Dead Lord of the Underworld Tools of the Trade Throwing Arts Climbing Arts Stormrider's Cloak Brain Helmet Wings Silent Step Backstab Silent Step Surface Scaling
Loci - 0/4 wounds Action - Attack Non-action - Movement - Effects Persistent Dead Any creature or minion you summon (must be from the Dark Domain shop or from this class) will have its duration increased by one. This allows it to remain for one extra post longer than its normal duration. Your summoned minions also become immune to effects or abilities your enemies control that would end their duration early, with the only exception being to straight up deal damage and kill them again. Spells and abilities that would remove the creature or banish it no longer take effect. Extended Frenzy If your undead servant witnesses one of your other minions or summoned creatures (must be from the Dark Domain shop or from this class) be killed or unsummoned while the servant is currently in a frenzy, it will have its frenzy duration increased by one post, allowing it to remain offensive for as long as your other minions continue to die. Wind - 0/4 wounds Action - Non-action - Movement - Effects Persistent Dead Any creature or minion you summon (must be from the Dark Domain shop or from this class) will have its duration increased by one. This allows it to remain for one extra post longer than its normal duration. Your summoned minions also become immune to effects or abilities your enemies control that would end their duration early, with the only exception being to straight up deal damage and kill them again. Spells and abilities that would remove the creature or banish it no longer take effect. Extended Frenzy If your undead servant witnesses one of your other minions or summoned creatures (must be from the Dark Domain shop or from this class) be killed or unsummoned while the servant is currently in a frenzy, it will have its frenzy duration increased by one post, allowing it to remain offensive for as long as your other minions continue to die. Hum - 0/4 wounds Action - Drinking Non-action - Drinking Movement - Effects Persistent Dead Any creature or minion you summon (must be from the Dark Domain shop or from this class) will have its duration increased by one. This allows it to remain for one extra post longer than its normal duration. Your summoned minions also become immune to effects or abilities your enemies control that would end their duration early, with the only exception being to straight up deal damage and kill them again. Spells and abilities that would remove the creature or banish it no longer take effect. Extended Frenzy If your undead servant witnesses one of your other minions or summoned creatures (must be from the Dark Domain shop or from this class) be killed or unsummoned while the servant is currently in a frenzy, it will have its frenzy duration increased by one post, allowing it to remain offensive for as long as your other minions continue to die. Whistle - 0/4 wounds Action - hacking off the leg of a Frostbitten Non-action - Movement - Weapon - Icicle Blades - Reach - Slashing - Ice Effects - none Wind - 0/4 wounds Action - stabbing a Frostbitten in the throat Non-action - Movement - Weapon - Frost Ballista - Ranged - Piercing - Ice Effects - none Chime - 0/4 wounds Action - Drinking Non-action - Drinking Movement - Weapon - Cute Effects - none Bell - 2/2 hp Action - Non-action - Movement - Effects Spirit Shroud When the spirit guardian is summoned it creates a spiritual shroud around it, emanating from its body with the spirit being at its center. The shroud has a ten foot diameter and will move around with the spirit. Any ally inside of the shroud will have their elemental abilities enhanced, increasing the speed and size of an elemental spell that is either ranged or a non controllable summon spell aka a wall (an elemental spell is a spell that deals Fire/Lightning/Ice/Water/Wind/Earth/Light/Dark, only the caster must be within the shroud itself to benefit from this ability, not the effects of the spell being cast, i.e. a wall would be larger if it was outside of the aura as long as the caster of the wall was within the aura). The spell will move twice as fast as it normally would and be twice as big as any spell cast outside of the shroud. This shroud vanishes when the spirit vanishes. Shroud Affliction The shroud that an individual spirit gives off is now increased to a 15 foot diameter, increasing its range of effectiveness while it is active. Additionally any enemy that is inside of the shroud will have their spells adversely affected. An enemies spell will be reduced in level by one, dropping from exalted to master, or master to novice. Any enemy spell that has a duration will have its duration reduced by one and will deal half as much damage while inside the shroud. NevAction - Non-action - Movement - Effects Spirit Shroud When the spirit guardian is summoned it creates a spiritual shroud around it, emanating from its body with the spirit being at its center. The shroud has a ten foot diameter and will move around with the spirit. Any ally inside of the shroud will have their elemental abilities enhanced, increasing the speed and size of an elemental spell that is either ranged or a non controllable summon spell aka a wall (an elemental spell is a spell that deals Fire/Lightning/Ice/Water/Wind/Earth/Light/Dark, only the caster must be within the shroud itself to benefit from this ability, not the effects of the spell being cast, i.e. a wall would be larger if it was outside of the aura as long as the caster of the wall was within the aura). The spell will move twice as fast as it normally would and be twice as big as any spell cast outside of the shroud. This shroud vanishes when the spirit vanishes. Shroud Affliction The shroud that an individual spirit gives off is now increased to a 15 foot diameter, increasing its range of effectiveness while it is active. Additionally any enemy that is inside of the shroud will have their spells adversely affected. An enemies spell will be reduced in level by one, dropping from exalted to master, or master to novice. Any enemy spell that has a duration will have its duration reduced by one and will deal half as much damage while inside the shroud.
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Post by Beak on Jun 24, 2024 2:11:39 GMT -5
"... Right. Knew that moment of quiet couldn't last." She glances over at Rena, making sure her girlfriend is... well, all right. She's slowly getting used to the nonchalance the Blackfeather family has in combat situations--the way they can react to situations like this with mild irritation when Beak herself was damn near panicking trying to protect everyone she loved the first few times it happened. She's always going to be more worried about them than they seem to be about themselves, but... she's slowly learning to trust their judgment; if they're not worried about this counter, then she shouldn't be, either. Not so long as she stays focused and does her part. She is a once proud-Ibekki warrior looking to redeem herself for that loss that cost her everything, though, and she'll never stop trying to... she doesn't like the term "show off" so much as "prove to her datemates that she's worthy; impress them" but... basically, same thing. So, first things first. After glancing around and finding whichever of the four Frostbitten is closest to Rena and the younglings and is still standing--not the one that Whistle just dropped to its back, in other words--a too-quick-to-see movement puts her directly behind it. She clutches her fingers closed in the hand with her clawed glove as if to make a fist, just enough for the claws to snap into a lower angle, more like they really are just long-clawed extensions of her natural fingers. It's been slightly awkward adapting to trading blows between one open-hand clawing attack and one closed fist, but- PunchPunchPuchPunch -It's certainly doable, and more than worth it for the increased versatility she gains from diversifying. The creature shrieks when struck with the cold iron glove in particular. She's already thanked Bell for that particular enhancement so many times, but she really needs to do it again.
Combat Sheet Beak - 0/6 wounds Action - Blink (Teleport to just behind nearest Frostbitten that's currently standing) Action - Attack Frostbitten Non-action - Glancing around the field, checking on Rena/enemy positions/etc. Movement - Active Effects
Weapons Hand 1: Clawed Glove - Unarmed, Slashing, Hand to Hand - Serrated Hand 2: Blackfeather Glove - Unarmed, Bludgeoning, Hand to Hand - Cold Iron, Offhand Items Sun Heart Ring Tent Digging Kit Defenses
Abilities Message Calm Emotion Meditate Force Wall Telekinesis Blink - Cooldown: 0/2 (Used this round) Fluency Passives Master (Unarmed) - Extra enhancement slot (Double Strike) Gills
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Post by Rena Brighteyes on Jun 24, 2024 10:52:28 GMT -5
The Frostbitten that Beak had struck hisses angrily as icy flesh crumbles at each impact site, the thing whirling around at…what most would consider to be a normal speed, lurching toward the skeleton like a marionette whose control bar has been jerked forward before bringing up its frozen hands to try and tear at Beak… … Rena tilts her head, a snap of her fingers causing Wind’s eye lights to burn to a pale, caustic pink, the little skeleton cracking her neck and flexing her hands before lunging for the Frostbitten that her brother had stabbed, a fist of bone slamming into the thing’s knee with a crack as the joint buckles and the Frostbitten suddenly has to divide its limited attention between taking down its prey and keeping itself upright…which serves as the perfect opportunity for Wind to slam a broadhead bolt under the thing’s chin and into its skull… Loci lets out an angry hiss, eyes lights burning a caustic, acidic green as he slams his own fist into the jaw of a Frostbitten crow before it can strike at his twin, his blow sending the creature’s head whipping to the side with enough force to make it stumble… Whistle, for her part, drives one of her bayonets up and into another Frostbitten’s skull via the jaw before ripping the blade free… …and then a second apparition of hungry black forms at the lich’s command, joining its ‘sibling’ in hacking away at the nearest available Frostbitten… ... Bell's hands twitch as he watches, his aura of smoke seeping into those around him, bolstering the family’s spells and crippling those of the Frostbitten, much the same as Nev… …a pity, then, that these shambling, frost riddled corpses lack the capacity for even the most basic of spells…
Combat Sheet Rena - 0/6 wounds Action - Undying Frenzy - WindAction - Summon: Major Minion Non-action - Movement - Active Effects Mighter than the Sword - 1/5 Summon: Major Minion - 3/4 duration - attacking Summon: Major Minion - 4/4 duration - attacking Weapons Duelist's Feathers - Slashing, Ranged - Doublestrike, Offhand - 40/40 ammo - 1/1 hp Venom Feathers - Piercing, Ranged - Doublestrike, Poison - 40/40 ammo Soulbound Bayonet - Slashing, Reach - Doublestrike, Lifelink, Serrated Rose Urumi - Slashing, Reach - Infinite petals Blackfeather Bayonets - Doublestrike, Dashing Blackfeather Pistols - no enhancements Blackfeather Staff - no enhancements Drake Gland - Ice Defenses Dancing Chain - 0/1 hp - cooling down 0/3 Dancing Chain - 1/1 hp - cooling down 0/3 Abilities Bestial Transformation - 1/1 Guardian Spirit - Caller of Spirits - 0/2 Banner Lord - 2/2 Consume Essence Spell Suspension - 2/2 Multi-Attack - 3/3 Pills of Vitality - 3/3 Quick Palm Lock Pick Undying Frenzy Passives Hired Help - Two for One Enchanting Sigil - Ice Undead Servant - Army of the Damned - Army of the Damned Persistent Dead Lord of the Underworld Tools of the Trade Throwing Arts Climbing Arts Stormrider's Cloak Brain Helmet Wings Silent Step Backstab Silent Step Surface Scaling
Loci - 0/4 wounds Action - Attack Non-action - Movement - Effects - Frenzied 2/3 Persistent Dead Any creature or minion you summon (must be from the Dark Domain shop or from this class) will have its duration increased by one. This allows it to remain for one extra post longer than its normal duration. Your summoned minions also become immune to effects or abilities your enemies control that would end their duration early, with the only exception being to straight up deal damage and kill them again. Spells and abilities that would remove the creature or banish it no longer take effect. Extended Frenzy If your undead servant witnesses one of your other minions or summoned creatures (must be from the Dark Domain shop or from this class) be killed or unsummoned while the servant is currently in a frenzy, it will have its frenzy duration increased by one post, allowing it to remain offensive for as long as your other minions continue to die. Wind - 0/4 wounds Action - Non-action - Movement - Effects - Frenzied 3/3 Persistent Dead Any creature or minion you summon (must be from the Dark Domain shop or from this class) will have its duration increased by one. This allows it to remain for one extra post longer than its normal duration. Your summoned minions also become immune to effects or abilities your enemies control that would end their duration early, with the only exception being to straight up deal damage and kill them again. Spells and abilities that would remove the creature or banish it no longer take effect. Extended Frenzy If your undead servant witnesses one of your other minions or summoned creatures (must be from the Dark Domain shop or from this class) be killed or unsummoned while the servant is currently in a frenzy, it will have its frenzy duration increased by one post, allowing it to remain offensive for as long as your other minions continue to die. Hum - 0/4 wounds Action - Drinking Non-action - Drinking Movement - Effects Persistent Dead Any creature or minion you summon (must be from the Dark Domain shop or from this class) will have its duration increased by one. This allows it to remain for one extra post longer than its normal duration. Your summoned minions also become immune to effects or abilities your enemies control that would end their duration early, with the only exception being to straight up deal damage and kill them again. Spells and abilities that would remove the creature or banish it no longer take effect. Extended Frenzy If your undead servant witnesses one of your other minions or summoned creatures (must be from the Dark Domain shop or from this class) be killed or unsummoned while the servant is currently in a frenzy, it will have its frenzy duration increased by one post, allowing it to remain offensive for as long as your other minions continue to die. Whistle - 0/4 wounds Action - Bayonet through Skull Non-action - Movement - Weapon - Icicle Blades - Reach - Slashing - Ice Effects - none Wind - 0/4 wounds Action - stabbing a Frostbitten in the throat Non-action - Movement - Weapon - Frost Ballista - Ranged - Piercing - Ice Effects - none Chime - 0/4 wounds Action - Drinking Non-action - Drinking Movement - Weapon - Cute Effects - none Bell - 2/2 hp Action - Non-action - Movement - Effects Spirit Shroud When the spirit guardian is summoned it creates a spiritual shroud around it, emanating from its body with the spirit being at its center. The shroud has a ten foot diameter and will move around with the spirit. Any ally inside of the shroud will have their elemental abilities enhanced, increasing the speed and size of an elemental spell that is either ranged or a non controllable summon spell aka a wall (an elemental spell is a spell that deals Fire/Lightning/Ice/Water/Wind/Earth/Light/Dark, only the caster must be within the shroud itself to benefit from this ability, not the effects of the spell being cast, i.e. a wall would be larger if it was outside of the aura as long as the caster of the wall was within the aura). The spell will move twice as fast as it normally would and be twice as big as any spell cast outside of the shroud. This shroud vanishes when the spirit vanishes. Shroud Affliction The shroud that an individual spirit gives off is now increased to a 15 foot diameter, increasing its range of effectiveness while it is active. Additionally any enemy that is inside of the shroud will have their spells adversely affected. An enemies spell will be reduced in level by one, dropping from exalted to master, or master to novice. Any enemy spell that has a duration will have its duration reduced by one and will deal half as much damage while inside the shroud. NevAction - Non-action - Movement - Effects Spirit Shroud When the spirit guardian is summoned it creates a spiritual shroud around it, emanating from its body with the spirit being at its center. The shroud has a ten foot diameter and will move around with the spirit. Any ally inside of the shroud will have their elemental abilities enhanced, increasing the speed and size of an elemental spell that is either ranged or a non controllable summon spell aka a wall (an elemental spell is a spell that deals Fire/Lightning/Ice/Water/Wind/Earth/Light/Dark, only the caster must be within the shroud itself to benefit from this ability, not the effects of the spell being cast, i.e. a wall would be larger if it was outside of the aura as long as the caster of the wall was within the aura). The spell will move twice as fast as it normally would and be twice as big as any spell cast outside of the shroud. This shroud vanishes when the spirit vanishes. Shroud Affliction The shroud that an individual spirit gives off is now increased to a 15 foot diameter, increasing its range of effectiveness while it is active. Additionally any enemy that is inside of the shroud will have their spells adversely affected. An enemies spell will be reduced in level by one, dropping from exalted to master, or master to novice. Any enemy spell that has a duration will have its duration reduced by one and will deal half as much damage while inside the shroud.
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Adventurer
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Post by Beak on Jun 24, 2024 18:02:54 GMT -5
Beak was very much hoping the first flurry of blows would be enough to finish her opponent, so she could then take out the others just as quickly and rush back to her family's side. Her family. That makes her feel things, but... not now. Right now, protectiveness is at the top of that list. Well, fine, so they're more resilient than she gave them credit for. Rena did say "seemingly infinite endurance;" perhaps that's what she meant. She also said they were fast, and the fact that this one is moving at more or less average speed after being slowed by the cold iron gives truth to that claim, as well. She's learning. Taking measure of her opponents, as this is the first time she's faced them. This is all very good to know. That said, Beak is fast, and "average speed" is easiliy within the realm of what she can dodge with a simple sidestep, and so she does. That leaves the creature open for... hmm.... Another flurry, perhaps, but let's try something. She tilts her body, aiming so that the glove Bell made for her--the one with cold iron--is aiming specifically for the creature's head. And if that doesn't work, there's always the strategy the children seem to have latched onto: cutting these creatures down like an axe to a tree. This is why she has two different types of gloves, now. Let's see you chase people down without legs, she thinks to herself, as she aims her strikes with those claws low.
Combat Sheet Beak - 0/6 wounds Action - Dodge (Sidestep) Action - Attack Frostbitten, aiming at legs with hand 1 and head with hand 2 Non-action - Movement - Active Effects
Weapons Hand 1: Clawed Glove - Unarmed, Slashing, Hand to Hand - Serrated Hand 2: Blackfeather Glove - Unarmed, Bludgeoning, Hand to Hand - Cold Iron, Offhand Items Sun Heart Ring Tent Digging Kit Defenses
Abilities Message Calm Emotion Meditate Force Wall Telekinesis Blink - Cooldown: 1/2 (Can use again in two more rounds) Fluency Passives Master (Unarmed) - Extra enhancement slot (Double Strike) Gills
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Post by Rena Brighteyes on Jun 24, 2024 19:21:30 GMT -5
The Frostbitten’s head caves in under by the strikes from Beak’s cold iron glove…but it doesn’t fall until the claws on Beak’s other glove sever its legs, causing the creature to tumble to the ground with a thud…but it doesn’t stop moving. none of them do. Cutting them down, crippling them, it all only seems to slow the creatures… …at least taking out the head seems to leave them unable to navigate, given how the one that just had its skull smashed in flails at the empty air… Loci and Wind both take note of this, each aiming one of their shattering blows at the head of one of the frozen crows, the thing’s cranium shattering under the twin strikes and stumbling back before tripping over its own feet and falling with a thud… …and then there are none left that aren’t either crippled or blinded, the Frostbitten with intact heads dragging themselves toward the family and the ones without stumbling around in an effort to find them… … Whistle and Wind are quick to take care of the last two that still have their heads - a heavy rock is enough for Whistle, while Wind opts to slam the butt of his ballista down on the head of the other. And then Rena speaks softly, “...I expect we’ll have to deal with more of the same as we make it to the Archives…no, that’s a lie. I expect we’ll have to deal with worse the farther in we go…”...and tucked into the sling under Rena's blouse, Hum and Chimes drift back to sleep, utterly unaware of the carnage around them. They stir a little bit when their mother gently pulls them out, letting out sleepy little peeps and shivering a little in the cold air, only just beginning to rouse before Rena's got them tucked into the heated nest within Beak's ribcage once more, and once that happens they're more than content to curl right back up...
Combat Sheet Rena - 0/6 wounds Action - Action - Non-action - Movement - Active Effects Mighter than the Sword - 1/5 Summon: Major Minion - 2/4 duration Summon: Major Minion - 3/4 duration Weapons Duelist's Feathers - Slashing, Ranged - Doublestrike, Offhand - 40/40 ammo - 1/1 hp Venom Feathers - Piercing, Ranged - Doublestrike, Poison - 40/40 ammo Soulbound Bayonet - Slashing, Reach - Doublestrike, Lifelink, Serrated Rose Urumi - Slashing, Reach - Infinite petals Blackfeather Bayonets - Doublestrike, Dashing Blackfeather Pistols - no enhancements Blackfeather Staff - no enhancements Drake Gland - Ice Defenses Dancing Chain - 0/1 hp - cooling down 1/3 Dancing Chain - 1/1 hp - cooling down 0/3 Abilities Bestial Transformation - 1/1 Guardian Spirit - Caller of Spirits - 0/2 Banner Lord - 2/2 Consume Essence Spell Suspension - 2/2 Multi-Attack - 3/3 Pills of Vitality - 3/3 Quick Palm Lock Pick Undying Frenzy Passives Hired Help - Two for One Enchanting Sigil - Ice Undead Servant - Army of the Damned - Army of the Damned Persistent Dead Lord of the Underworld Tools of the Trade Throwing Arts Climbing Arts Stormrider's Cloak Brain Helmet Wings Silent Step Backstab Silent Step Surface Scaling
Loci - 0/4 wounds Action - Attack Non-action - Movement - Effects - Frenzied 1/3 Persistent Dead Any creature or minion you summon (must be from the Dark Domain shop or from this class) will have its duration increased by one. This allows it to remain for one extra post longer than its normal duration. Your summoned minions also become immune to effects or abilities your enemies control that would end their duration early, with the only exception being to straight up deal damage and kill them again. Spells and abilities that would remove the creature or banish it no longer take effect. Extended Frenzy If your undead servant witnesses one of your other minions or summoned creatures (must be from the Dark Domain shop or from this class) be killed or unsummoned while the servant is currently in a frenzy, it will have its frenzy duration increased by one post, allowing it to remain offensive for as long as your other minions continue to die. Wind - 0/4 wounds Action - Attack Non-action - Movement - Effects - Frenzied 2/3 Persistent Dead Any creature or minion you summon (must be from the Dark Domain shop or from this class) will have its duration increased by one. This allows it to remain for one extra post longer than its normal duration. Your summoned minions also become immune to effects or abilities your enemies control that would end their duration early, with the only exception being to straight up deal damage and kill them again. Spells and abilities that would remove the creature or banish it no longer take effect. Extended Frenzy If your undead servant witnesses one of your other minions or summoned creatures (must be from the Dark Domain shop or from this class) be killed or unsummoned while the servant is currently in a frenzy, it will have its frenzy duration increased by one post, allowing it to remain offensive for as long as your other minions continue to die. Hum - 0/4 wounds Action - Non-action - Movement - Effects - snoozing Persistent Dead Any creature or minion you summon (must be from the Dark Domain shop or from this class) will have its duration increased by one. This allows it to remain for one extra post longer than its normal duration. Your summoned minions also become immune to effects or abilities your enemies control that would end their duration early, with the only exception being to straight up deal damage and kill them again. Spells and abilities that would remove the creature or banish it no longer take effect. Extended Frenzy If your undead servant witnesses one of your other minions or summoned creatures (must be from the Dark Domain shop or from this class) be killed or unsummoned while the servant is currently in a frenzy, it will have its frenzy duration increased by one post, allowing it to remain offensive for as long as your other minions continue to die. Whistle - 0/4 wounds Action - Smashing a Frostbitten's skull Non-action - Movement - Weapon - Icicle Blades - Reach - Slashing - Ice Effects - none Wind - 0/4 wounds Action - Bashing a Frostbitten's skull Non-action - Movement - Weapon - Frost Ballista - Ranged - Piercing - Ice Effects - none Chime - 0/4 wounds Action - Non-action - Movement - Weapon - Cute Effects - snoozing Bell - 2/2 hp Action - Non-action - Movement - Effects Spirit Shroud When the spirit guardian is summoned it creates a spiritual shroud around it, emanating from its body with the spirit being at its center. The shroud has a ten foot diameter and will move around with the spirit. Any ally inside of the shroud will have their elemental abilities enhanced, increasing the speed and size of an elemental spell that is either ranged or a non controllable summon spell aka a wall (an elemental spell is a spell that deals Fire/Lightning/Ice/Water/Wind/Earth/Light/Dark, only the caster must be within the shroud itself to benefit from this ability, not the effects of the spell being cast, i.e. a wall would be larger if it was outside of the aura as long as the caster of the wall was within the aura). The spell will move twice as fast as it normally would and be twice as big as any spell cast outside of the shroud. This shroud vanishes when the spirit vanishes. Shroud Affliction The shroud that an individual spirit gives off is now increased to a 15 foot diameter, increasing its range of effectiveness while it is active. Additionally any enemy that is inside of the shroud will have their spells adversely affected. An enemies spell will be reduced in level by one, dropping from exalted to master, or master to novice. Any enemy spell that has a duration will have its duration reduced by one and will deal half as much damage while inside the shroud. NevAction - Non-action - Movement - Effects Spirit Shroud When the spirit guardian is summoned it creates a spiritual shroud around it, emanating from its body with the spirit being at its center. The shroud has a ten foot diameter and will move around with the spirit. Any ally inside of the shroud will have their elemental abilities enhanced, increasing the speed and size of an elemental spell that is either ranged or a non controllable summon spell aka a wall (an elemental spell is a spell that deals Fire/Lightning/Ice/Water/Wind/Earth/Light/Dark, only the caster must be within the shroud itself to benefit from this ability, not the effects of the spell being cast, i.e. a wall would be larger if it was outside of the aura as long as the caster of the wall was within the aura). The spell will move twice as fast as it normally would and be twice as big as any spell cast outside of the shroud. This shroud vanishes when the spirit vanishes. Shroud Affliction The shroud that an individual spirit gives off is now increased to a 15 foot diameter, increasing its range of effectiveness while it is active. Additionally any enemy that is inside of the shroud will have their spells adversely affected. An enemies spell will be reduced in level by one, dropping from exalted to master, or master to novice. Any enemy spell that has a duration will have its duration reduced by one and will deal half as much damage while inside the shroud.
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