• 128 HP
  

  MAX 128 HP

• 173 EN
  

  MAX 188 EN

-15 EN for Valkyrie Dance
-0 EN for Heartbeat, Heartbreak

So…this was Applesun Village.

The midnight haired muse was uncharacteristically quiet as the group strode stealthily towards the ruins of the former village, a mixture of emotions shut down under the weight of everything else. The collapsing of a star, a thousand fragments of sensations bundled up and crushed until naught remained was diamond dust, a gluttonous hole. He could read it easily enough, could understand far better now, all the threads that this scenario was constructed of.

The Cult of Baal and the Church of El. The Church blessed children with power, making them saints with personalized miracles, while the Cult sought their death to feed their demon god and to weaken the influence of the Church’s god upon this plane of existence.

And now, all that karma was coming back to bite him, for he had consigned the village to destruction the moment he caved in the child’s skull with arcane light.

…

No. He will bear the burden of her permanent death, but not the burden of the demise of an entire village. For that was the cross that he’ll place upon those cultists. Three hundred gold pieces was too light a price, so now, he would collect. Collect and collect and collect the blood price until he was sated in sanguine wrath. The suit writhed under its masters instability, threads shuddering slightly until a hand was placed over the aberrant cloth, quelling it. Slaughterer or Flagbearer it mattered not. Such things were always two sides of the same coin, and in this case, in a world where all his connections had been severed, in a world where Eldhi’s sword laid broken, where Ursa’s light was extinguished, where Magi’s path remained obscured, where Seigi’s ideals could not be realized, Cain couldn’t give a fuck about whether or not he looked good doing it.

He was here to offer condolences and vengeance for the dead, to feed the flame that kept him breathing.

Slender, gloved fingers traced the claw marks of a neighboring building, the muse letting out a breath. A small hope was there, that none were slain, that all were simply in hiding, but he wouldn’t bank on it. More memories to commit to his Symphony, more burdens upon his back, as shadows writhed, interweaving more and more tightly with his song craft. The ashen, polluted air was reminiscent of far too much now, more familiar to him than flowers and sunshine, of a verdant orchard after a summer rain.

A cart was overturned on the side of the road, scorched black by flame. Was that the cart of the farmer who had given him a ride to town? The husk of a stall remained, seven arrowheads pinned. Was that the stall of the girl that had sold him the pies he never ate? Did a trace of Nyx’s poisons still linger here? What of Youn’s sister? The stablemaster who never got his horses back?

Unbidden, the Dissonant Symphony clawed its way out of Cain’s back, azure and shadow forming the heroic Muses that were now naught more than the dust of the earth. An ensemble of performers chained to the muse who invoked their memories for strength, an entourage of spirits that still reminded Cain of the beauty that could exist in the world. Justicar, Lioness, Witch, Oracle, Hero.

A hand reached out to stroke the ephemeral cheek of one of the phantoms he still clung to, before Cain turned to Aalam, the beginnings of a feral smile cresting his features.

“Never thought three hundred gold was worth it for such a shitty job. You?”

Oh, yes, he was totally ready.

Single Buff @Aalam Abungu
24 + 21 + 10 = 55
Tracker / Roll
+2 Rhythm

 

• 160 HP
  

  MAX 160 HP

• 142 EN
  

  MAX 152 EN

-10 EN for Hide
+55 buff from Cain
+50 buff from Hide

Aalam looked at the little girl that had called this grouping together there were people that he knew and a few of the old watch present. He was surprised to see Ezra on this mission, Cain less so the man had a bleeding heart complex had to try and save everyone. The rest of them he either knew from word of mouth or well from other players it was a good little grouping of power right now and well if they could keep personal feelings out of a job. However demon fighting should be a good past time, and after what he has seen he could believe that it was a demon. Popping the top off one of his flasks and taking a swig as he listens, the name Applesun was mention and his drink caught in his throat stifling a cough as he forced it back down and checked to see if anyone noticed out of the corner of his eye. Putting the flask back in his pocket and pulling out the rum this was going to be a long day if the right was telling the truth and from that look, she had in her eyes it seemed that this was the case. Downing the entire flask of rum and any type of guilt that he might have had, there was work to be done, and he would let the guilt hit him after.

However seeing what was left of the village was another shock, they had gone the place running well at least they were still alive, and there was still a town. This was, what he was looking at was ruins resting his hand on one of the trees and feeling it break under the small pressure he provided. His eyes were scanning the area; it was times like this that he wishes he had brought Zeus with him then at least he would have had eyes in the air. He could taste the delay the death; he hadn’t seen something his large scale since the watch. They were gone the people, but there were signs of a fight a struggle, they did not go down without a fight but they were gone even he could see that much. But where was the blood, even on the arrowheads there wasn’t a speck of blood? This was the remains of a battlefield yet he could not find a single drop of blood, the smell of death hung in the air but it was missing that iron ting of blood.

Breaking his gaze at the village to look at Cain, his face unmoving as he looked down at the man and the smile on his face. Aalam was working now letting out a deep breath, “The job is the job Cain doesn’t matter what the price was you agree to something you get it done.” Equipping his bow and his quiver feeling is weight rest on him, his hand clutching his bow, his knuckles white as the skin was pulled tight over the bone. “However that being said I will kill them quite painfully.” Pulling up his hood and plunging his face into shadow, it’s been some time since he very much wanted to kill someone well let the job begin.”

hide
10+40 = 50
Tracker / Roll

 

• 120 HP
  

  MAX 120 HP

• 160 EN
  

  MAX 165 EN

-5 EN for make my monster grow!

It was the stench that hit her first. That kind of awful odor that will just stick to your skin, your hair, and clothes just as long as the memory of it sticks in your mind. Like a skunk crawled up another skunk's ass and decided to do some experimental cooking with durians, the strongest possible spices, and dog shit, but burned the whole thing and decided the best way to deal with it was to throw it out. For how sticky the ground was, that's probably exactly what happened.

The second thing that hit her was the pang of jealousy that Luna had that flower sticking out of her eye, which hopefully emitted enough of a pleasant scent to make the whole thing just a bit more bearable.

Madison wanted to breath through her mouth instead, but the one time she tried she swore she could taste it. All the death and decay that swept through Applebees or whatever Red said the name of this village was. It was almost enough to make her wretch.

Speaking of their mysterious client, Madison waited until the girl was occupied with other things before she opened up her palm menu. Accessing the party functions in her UI, the plagueslinger sent a quick message to the other five.

Keep an eye on Red. Something about her seems a bit off. I don't trust her.

Closing down her menu, the raven-haired woman began to scan the ruins of the village. From what she gathered, whoever or whatever ripped through here did a damn fine job. The destruction was thorough and complete. Not a single life spared from fire or steel or what have you.

Makes for a miserable time trying to flex my muscles with Nature Magic, she darkly noted.

Madison called out to @Luna Avalbane, who had a small amount of knowledge in the art. Every little bit was going to help with the coming war. "Can I get a hand over here, please?"

Kneeling down, Madison touched her hand to the dead earth (which was seemingly a descriptor that was being used with increasing regularity, much to her chagrin). The tips of her fingers glowed emerald as she closed her eyes, looking with her mind's eye for any lingering threads of mana she could grasp. It only took three seconds before she found a line to latch onto.

With a thought, she yanked on the thread until life burst forth from her hand. Slowly at first, but with a quickening speed lush patches of vines and beds of moss began to sprout from where she knelt, spreading outward and deeper into the ruins of Applewhatever.

The spell was cast, and Madison rose to her feet. As she watched her work complete itself, the disciple of decay and rebirth turned to Shana.

"So, I've been thinking," she began, her tone flat and cautious. "If these cultists are using your pal's body as a catalyst to bring forth this Baal nerd, what do you think might happen if we sort of... deny them that resource? You know--like if we blew up the corpse or something?"

Madison let the suggestion hang in the air for a moment while she stretched, working out the kinks in her shoulders and neck. "I've done my fair share of occult studies and rituals. If they're trying to summon Baal and using the body as a conduit, they lose the connection. If it's a vessel, then they have nothing in which to hold the demon's essence, and it'll likely dissipate."

She eyed Red, feeling for a response in the twitching of her face. "Thoughts?"

@Skyswimsky

Grow
No roll
Tracker
Nature: 1 + 5 = 6

 

• 172 HP
  

  MAX 172 HP

• 121 EN
  

  MAX 121 EN

-00 EN for Summoning Guardian

Curiosity killed the cat…

It was the single thing that kept repeating in her mind as the group rallied at the village and then left in the carriage. She didn’t know where they were going, hadn’t even heard of the place to be honest, but this event was supposed to be challenging and Ezra felt she needed a challenge. She had missed out on the chaos of the World Boss and since then had felt largely off her game. She spent her time in game fishing or working on armor not…doing anything.

This was to get rid of that lethargy that had somehow taken root inside her muscles and bones.

Now, standing at the edge of the village with the horrendous scent of death in her nose, she had to wonder if this was the right way to go about things. Maddy and Luna had tried to help, taking her aside for various things throughout the week, but it was an offhand comment about occults and devil summoning that had perked her interest. Of course, it would be dangerous, Maddy hadn’t minced words about that, but maybe dangerous was what she needed?

The sight before her made her think otherwise.

She swallowed, summoning forth energy that collected and reformed beside her, a knight in armor soon standing to her left. Silent, stalwart, not someone or something Ezra would summon herself if she had a say on it, but she didn’t. This ability, much like the one she could use to combat Luna’s lasers and Maddy’s blight, was new to her.

Her silver eyes glanced from it to the others whom made up their party. All familiar faces except for one…well, two, if you counted the woman whom had gathered them all together. Still, she squinted at Cain’s comment and Aalam’s response, a frown marking the pronounced features of her face. There was a history there that neither one of them seemed apt to talk about and though curious, Ezra said nothing. Either things would unfold, and she would find out what the hell was going on, or they wouldn’t and things would still be okay. Ugh, she was being optimistic again.

A tight nod was the only indication she gave to the Blight Witch that Ezra had received the message. The only people she was apt to trust were the ones standing beside her. The little red-head was not one of them. As Madison asked her question and Aalam disappeared into the creeping shadows of this ruined village, Ezra turned and extended her hand to Luna, her strong fingers seeking her lithe ones. Interlacing them, she gave her hand a small squeeze.

Nervous raced up and down her spine, but she didn’t know the cause of them. Perhaps it was the general unknown or the fact she was going in half-blind or the aura of the village that was sinking into her skin. She swallowed, made herself exhale through pursed lips, and rolled her shoulders.

Curiosity killed the cat but satisfaction brought it back. ​

Summon Guardian
No Roll
Tracker . No Roll

 

• 166 HP
  

  MAX 166 HP

• 142 EN
  

  MAX 142 EN

To Comet, it seemed like every other adventure or mission or quest had to do with a church and an evil being. She sighed. Terrasphere offered torturous times, and equally as fun ones, but always dealt with what made her bored. The pink-haired woman affiliated with herself and only herself. To believe in higher beings existed within Terrasphere. At least you could see them here, she thought, while remembering Des Weiss and the fight against Dissonance that made shivers crawl down her spine. It changed her. Not for the worst, but certainly enough to strike a spark of notice in her cold heart turned warm. Though such thoughts of herself turned into curiosity of what ruined environment surrounded the group. The smell, the sight, the sense of idea of what went on; with a flustered face she curled into thin arms to last longer without going sick. Since the game was her only reality - where she could be herself without resentment - she made more of it than others. Turned the situation into a horrid sight while the rest remained calm. Her emerald eyes lifted to bear what remained, but she couldn't deny a restless gut churned as she caught up with the rest having stopped for a moment or two to be alone. The pink-haired woman remained silent. Though she'd wave towards those she knew there wasn't much of a place for her to say anything important nor relevant quite yet. A frown in response to Madison's idea - a plausible yet disgusting sounding thing to suggest - matched her continuous silence. Preparing for battle came easy to the Archer who'd been in multiple since first entering Terrasphere. Hardly any anxieties loomed aside from ones that were derived from the overall awful place they had to travel to.

No Roll
Tracker

 

• 142 HP
  

  MAX 142 HP

• 146 EN
  

  MAX 151 EN

-5 EN for Grow

Following orders and requests came naturally to Luna, she was a people pleaser at heart, most of the time at least. So it wasn't hard to figure out exactly how she'd found herself standing with a group of people, most of whom she knew, with a pair of male exceptions who had her ever so slightly on edge. Especially the archer, he seemed like the dangerous sort of person, the kind her parents would advise her to avoid and shy away from in the real world.

But nevertheless, here they were, about to venture into some dead forest in search of some kind of evil that needed vanquishing. It was unnerving for sure, but honestly after facing both Titanius and those crystallized dissonance creatures, she wasn't sure exactly what could be worse than those. Surely whatever they faced here couldn't be any worse and as far as she was aware, she was surrounded by very powerful people. And Comet. She had no clue whether that woman was powerful.

Fingers laced with her own, causing Luna to jump slightly, turning to see a blue hand. A familiar one at that. She sighed, a hand pressed against her beating heart as her newest beast friend, a Pit Viper, curled around her arm to taste Ezra, to get a good reading on her scent.

With that happening, Luna turned back to the dead forest, which now had some moss and some vines, focusing her own knowledge of Nature Magic. From where her feet touched the ground, fresh, green grass spread out into the forest, shrubs and bushes also forming at random points. It wasn't a whole lot, but she could still cultivate growth. Now all she needed was to wait for further instructions.

Grow
No + No = +3 Nature Stack
Tracker / No Roll

 

• 128 HP
  

  MAX 128 HP

• 168 EN
  

  MAX 188 EN

Location: G4 - Zone VII

Moving from F4 to G4
-15 EN for Valkyrie Dance
-0 EN for Heartbeat, Heartbreak

Hah. Ha hah hah. Hah…

What sort of karma was this indeed, that the dead served to haunt him more and more as the days went on? Of course the child he killed was part of a seal. Of course this evil god entity was trying to get access to this world through the weak connection it could now make through the seal. Of course this red haired miracle kid was another part of the seal, coming to literally hand herself over to the ones that wanted her dead. Dark eyes flitted from ruin to ruin, the phantasmal choir swirling around him as Cain kept an eye on his surroundings, searching for monsters in the shadows, predators lurking within the ruins.

But there were none. Just another ghost. Months ago, he was snide, cocksure, with a brutal sense of duty and a mind that turned too slowly to match his physique. Now, he was naught but a puppet for another being, immortality gained for desecration. A blade of wind, hm? And a demon as well, tongue sharp as razors, twisting the face of the dead man into a caricature of mockery.

Hah. Hah. Hah…

What sort of karma was this indeed, that the dead served to haunt him more and more as the days went on? The concentrated animosity from Shana was a sight to behold, but he had seen that expression before already, from Kyupin. So he smiled instead, nothing but understanding in his expression. The midnight haired muse knew exactly what the Daughter of El felt. The Slaughterer of Miracles knew exactly what the Daughter of El wished to do. The Flagbearer of Miracles knew exactly what the Daughter of El chose to do.

Neither of them had time for this. After all, an acquaintance of his needed to be buried. So he presented that same smile to what remained of Zack, unbothered by the disdain and the gore, the pressure and the hatred.

She became accustomed to revulsion when she was seven years old, swiping leftovers in a fast food restaurant.

“I’ve come to collect,” Cain said, spreading his hands apart as the Harmonic Symphony raised their celestial voices, “The paltry sum you’ve offered before was hardly worthy, so this time around…perhaps I’ll melt down your paraphernalia and end your little goth brigade?”

The memories burned and concentrated, the furnace roaring once again.

“Now then, let’s make this fast, shall we? Compared to thousand year old horrors, a vestige of a piece of shit hardly warrants our time.”

And with that last jab, Cain allowed the mana to flow through his imaginary veins, a symphonic aria mending the wounds upon Ezra’s body while a battle hymn set the tune for Luna’s own magic, azure lightning crackling over the snow-haired girl’s staff.

But still…still, the muse had not sung.

Single Buff @Luna Avalbane
48 + 21 + 10 = 79
Single Heal @Ezra
2*10 = 20
Tracker / Roll
+8 Rhythm
+5 Notes

 

• 120 HP
  

  MAX 120 HP

• 155 EN
  

  MAX 165 EN

Location: H4 - Zone VII

-5 EN for Custom C

"Hey, Luna."

After the arcanamancer finished her spell to help the growth of nature, Madison stepped next to her. The witch noticed that she looked a bit skittish, a bit unsure of herself, a bit scared. Honestly? Madison understood. As confident and aloof she carried herself, the woman couldn't help but to shake a feeling of dread that began to fester in her gut.

She'd never admit it, of course.

Luna looked up at Madison, who tried to put on the best smile she could. "Thanks," she began to say, but she had no idea where to proceed from there. She was used to bossing people around, shouting commands across the battlefield. This whole positive reinforcement thing was completely foreign to her.

She decided on something somewhere in between. Test the waters on this whole nice thing that was awkwardly becoming the norm for her. "Keep up with the Nature stuff," she continued, resting her gloved hand on the girl's shoulder. "Every little bit helps me out, which means I can help everyone else out."

Madison then did the unthinkable. She pulled the arcanamancer in for a side hug that lasted whole seconds. "We're going to be alright. You'll see."

The whole exchange felt strange to the dark druid. As Madison let the arcanamancer go, she was already kicking herself for not saying things she should've said, playing back the moment in her mind and fixing all these little thing she should've said and the manner in which she should've said them. But the opportunity had arisen for Maddy to learn from the mistakes--Ezra was looking unsure of herself as well.

As she approached the armored woman, a burst of concentrated wind tore through the earth and hit Ezra.

Madison raised her arms in defense, and began looking for the source, a snarl on her lips.

A battered, broken shell of a man looked on, and began talking with Red.

Honestly, she was too busy being pissed off to pay attention to anything that he said to the party's guide. While the two shouted at each other, Madison was preparing a spell of her own. Sliding her deck of corrupted playing cards out of their gold-pressed tuck case, the briar witch began to shuffle them up and charge the cards with mana.

Nobody was going to deny her the chance to get this whole being nice and supportive to others thing right and get away with it!

Drawing the top card of her deck, the Two of Clubs hummed with a dark energy. The ground at Madison's feet began to transform and split as a wave of thick brambles grew from the dead earth. They were a sickly brownish purple and covered with thorns, growing at an accelerated pace towards this Cloud Strife-ass motherfucker who dared to approach the seven of them.

Zack Attack!
2 + 20 + 25 = 47
+2 Nature Stacks
Tracker / Roll
Target: 571 / 2000 HP

 

• 160 HP
  

  MAX 160 HP

• 137 EN
  

  MAX 152 EN

Location: G8 - Zone X

-5 EN for Standard Shot
+50 damage from Hide (Lasts until next attack)
+55 damage from Valkyrie Dance (2/3)

Aalam looked at the body that once held a good man and saw how it was being used; it just wasn’t right. It was just not right to see what had been done to this man that wasn’t right. At least it seemed that he went down fighting and was able to carry a few of them with him but that didn’t explain the lack of bodies. Unless he wasn’t the only body and that didn’t bode well for the party when this was finished Aalam was going to be doing a lot of drinking. However, the job came first and always, but the offer to get paid for killing a new one did get him to pause and look at Shana. It would be an easy payday if he were able to get it done. A simple arrow to the neck but no these Cult was the bigger threat right now.
Zach would have to die quickly if he could attack like that, especially with a sword from that distance. It always became a problem when someone was able to do something that wasnt normal in the slightest. They would need to put him down as soon as possible, but if he was able to get in contact with him. That could work in the long run or at least give them a few seconds before to get the jump on the enemy when the next group comes, so that meant he had to move.

So he pulled up his face mask and did what he did best he faded into the background as the group was busy doing their own thing. And while Ezra was busy with Zack, Cain was busy with Shana and Shana was busy with Cain. He made his way across the ruins moving behind buildings and the wreckages of the town. At least the old buildings made a great cover when he needed to get from place to place unseen. So he pops up behind Zack and giving the man tap on the shoulder so that Doppelganger would take effect. He always hates the feel when he changed it was like he was wearing a fat suit. However, this was only going to work if Zack was dead. So he aimed at point black range at the man, they would need to kill him now. Well, the good thing is that he wouldn’t miss at a range this close. So he pulled back his bow back to the full draw as he looked whatever was in that man’s body and released his arrow. Zack had a neck, and it was about to have an arrow passing through it.

Standard Shot on Zack
27 + (50 mods) (105 buff)= 182
Tracker / Roll
Target: 389/ 2000 HP

 

• 167 HP
  

  MAX 172 HP

• 116 EN
  

  MAX 121 EN

Location: F7 - Zone X

Moving from F6 to F7
-25 HP from Wind Cutter
-05 EN from Warding Slice
+20 HP from Cain Heal

From the corner of her eye, she watched the one-arm hug that Maddy gave Luna. A small kernel of jealous vibrated in her stomach and she quickly turned her attention else. It was silly, to be jealous about a hug. They were just probably closer friends than she and Madison were and there was nothing wrong with that.

There was nothing wrong with that.

The sudden blast from Zack’s attack left Ezra on her ass, her Guardian sprawled next to her, the clink of chain armor grating against the ground. She shook her head, grumbled something under her breath and set her sights on the one-armed swordsman.

Protect Luna, she commanded the metal suit only to receive a creaky nod in reply. It rushed off to do its master’s bidding while Ezra charged forward, both hands holding onto her great ax. She brought it down in an overhead arc against their enemy, the magic from Cain’s heal pulsing up her spine and filling her with warmth.

She felt better already!

Warding Slice against Zack
44 + 35 + 20 = 99
Tracker / Roll
Target: 290 / 2000 HP

Guardian regains 15 HP. Guardian protects @Luna Avalbane

 

• 142 HP
  

  MAX 142 HP

• 136 EN
  

  MAX 151 EN

Location: F6 - Zone VI

-10 EN for Take This!

Receiving a hug from Madison, or any kind of praise or comfort, was a rarity indeed and one that shocked Luna to her very core. Truthfully, she was half ready to accuse the woman of being somebody else in disguise, before she realized just how silly that would be. There was no way to disguise yourself in this game, right?

The everything went to hell as an attack struck Ezra, her eyes falling on a guy with a sword, who their redhead companion seemed to know somehow. He just looked awful, as if he were falling apart, about to burst open at the seams.

And she felt powerful, her body crackling and sparking with power not her own. One of the party had buffed her, it seemed. She'd thank him later. Right now, she needed to fire or it felt like she might explode.

And fire she did. With a wordless, intense buildup of raw, unrefined arcane energy, a beam of purple light tore through the air and slammed into the man in front of her. And when it died down, he looked FAR worse than he had before.

Take This! On Zack
44 + 98 + 50(Mods) + 79(Buff) + 11(Spellcharge) = 282
Tracker / Roll
Target: 8 / 2000 HP
Spellcharge: 11