Birds of a Feather [COMPLETED] | Page 2

A look of repulsion was given by the dark haired man as the foul beast barred down upon them. Despite the many questions to be had regarding the woman, the phoenix as well as a plethora of other things, the adventurer would have to shelf them for now. After all, there was no time for fruitless contemplation in the face of such a monstrosity.

Relief did fill the caster however as he watched that sturdy figure stride forth with laudable valor to meet the creature. His blade now kindled with a warm light that he too was oh so familiar with, he’d nod once before securing a position distant to the man’s rear. His actions were not as fashionably showy or swift yet however, as his hand continued to fumble within the game’s interface in order to cast a spell of his liking. The incantations, though as fun and enjoyable as they were, still eluded him at times due to the realism of the threats faced. For now, he’d have to wing it the traditional way until his nerves had properly adjusted.

Eyes darting between the two combatants that were soon to clash, they’d occasionally flicker back across his hand in order to nimbly maneuver through the interface. If there was one thing the Bao of reality was good at, muscle memory without visual confirmation was most definitely it. Though perhaps a hair slower than what one would expect from a verbal cast, the spell would trigger in the nick of time. As Aaron moved to collide with the abomination, a translucent barrier of light would form, shielding him from the creature’s own assault, allowing him to whole heartedly focus on offense.

“Keep holding the line! I’ve got your back.” Though it was a bit cheesy to say something along those lines, it conveyed Jack’s intent easily enough. As for the caster’s next move? He had already begun planning it. His dominant hand would daintily dancing through the interface as yet another spell was being prepared…

@Lyre

 

Aaron grinned when he felt himself become bolstered with defensive power from Jack. "Oh, I could definitely get used to this," he muttered. His grin grew even more as he found himself severing the arms of the beast, leaving bloody stumps in their place.

So why did the beast not seem like it understood the situation, and why did the girl seem like what was happening wasn't necessarily in their favor right now?

Aaron cursed when he realized the creature was doing something to all the magic in the area. The light of his sword gave out, and he felt the additional defense from Jack's magic fade as well. He watched as life itself seemed to fade from everything that was all around them.

"You bastard," Aaron scowled. "Fine then, I don't need magic to kill you." As the beast began to change shape, Aaron spun his sword again. It might be a bit harder without the assistance of magic, sure. But he wasn't completely useless with a sword anymore.

When the beast seemed to settle on its new form, Aaron spat. "Doesn't matter what you look like, I'll still kill you, nonethe-hey!" Aaron started to jump back as the beast lunged at him, but he realized it wouldn't be enough to fully get out of the way. Instead, then, he decided to do the next best thing. Just like before, with that poacher - let himself get hit. By attacking him, the beast made the opening. Aaron released a primal shout of anger, righteousness, and fury and raised his sword up to meet the beast head on, and hoped that Jack would have enough mana left over once it was all said and done to spare a healing spell his way.

 

“Well, ain’t that a load of bullshit. Magic eater or not, you’d think the undead would avoid holy magic, am I right? Or am I right?” The caster continued to gripe a bit as he watched the events unfold. It probably didn’t help that the witch’s seemingly harmless chatter wasn’t exactly the most encouraging (despite her efforts in a proper follow up for morale boost). It was whatever however. He’d shove his own displeasure into the corner of his mind for now. After all, there was a beast to slay. Though running was always still an option, perhaps it wasn’t wise given their lack of familiarity with the mountains.

A bit unsure on how to proceed, he’d hesitate for a moment as he continued to gauge the two combatants interlocked in combat currently. His eyes focused curiously at the creature, desperately searching for attack patterns, weaknesses, anything that could be predicted really. After all, this was a game right? There had to be some governing rules towards their method to the madness. “Perhaps there’s some terrain nearby that we could use? Why bludgeon the thing to death when we could trap it under a rock or something?...” The dark haired man continued to muse to himself while playing with various ideas.


“You know what? Screw it… ” He’d rush forward upon sensing his companion’s intentions. Not wanting to let them go to waste, he too would charge in an attempt to assail the creature while it was temporarily occupied. Circling off to its rear, he’d leap up while grabbing at the monstrosity’s horns and latching on lightly with both hands. A jerking motion would be made once his grip was secure in an attempt to throw the creature off rhythm. Perhaps if he was lucky he’d be able to tear the strange bone necklace dangling about its throat as well.


@Lyre

 

“Yeah, yeah! We’ll worry about it eating magic chicken laateeeeer---“ Despite his hands currently being full from wrangling with the creature’s horns, it seemed as though Jack still had enough spunk left in him to joke around. He was abruptly through off however, his figure crashing to the ground as he’d clench his hand reflexively. There between his fingers rest the uncanny bone necklace he had spotted earlier.

The sight that met his eyes however was much different than expected. Partially tuning out the witch’s words, he’d shake his head groggily only to find a similar but much less foul looking creature approaching him for a lick. His hand reflexively drawing back out of instinct, he’d let out a deep breath before extending it back out to pet the now gentle creature. “Ya know, voodoo magic and undead gore aside… it’s kinda cute. It’s a pity something like this had to go and ruin things.” He’d cast the necklace upon the ground, only to watch as the self-proclaimed Capricorn crushed it almost immediately thereafter.

His attention now reverted back to the woman from before, he’d scratch the back of his head curiously while contemplating a proper response. His eyes sifted over to Aaron once to gauge his intentions. Sure, the other lad was pretty concerned about reviving the man’s daughter as soon as possible… but the dead wouldn’t get more dead, right? There were priorities to be had.

Speaking of which, his companion looked uhh, rather wounded. Realizing he had forgotten something important, he’d quickly raise a hand to mingle with the game’s interface while triggering a healing spell. A beam of warm light would descend upon the fighter, bathing him in a gentle sensation that slowly closed back his wounds over time. “Well? Feeling up for round two now? Sounds like our work here still ain’t done…” He’d temporarily withhold any questions he had for the girl as he awaited his companion’s response. As for now? He’d take a raincheck on her offer to satisfy his curiosity.


@Aaron Marone
(Posting now in case I can't squeeze one in before work!)

 

"Ah, fuck!" Aaron shouted with pain as the claws raked through his skin and tore his flesh. He dropped to his knees and clutched his chest, groaning in pain. That had hurt a lot worse than he was expecting.

He watched from his kneeling position as Jack ripped some kind of pendant off of the creature. His mouth opened in awe as he watched the creature begin to change again. This time, the form it ended on seemed beautiful and benign. Was that pendant really the cause of all the problems?

Aaron dropped his sword and laughed when the creature began licking him. He raised the hand that had been holding his sword up to pet the creature, still clutching his chest with his other hand. Laughing made it hurt a bit worse, but he couldn't really help himself. "I'm sorry if I hurt you, big guy. You feeling better, now?" He asked.

Once more, Aaron updated his mental notes about how this game interacted with morality. A good creature or thing could be turned evil by an enchanted item, or likely many other magics as well. He fought a scowl, successfully. Did this world not wish a man to be good? Or was it simply doing it's best to be real? Would people in the real world use such powers if they could? Sadly, Aaron acknowledged that they would indeed.

He gasped in relief when Jack began to heal him. When the spells as complete, Aaron stood. "Thank you, friend. I hadn't realized you also had access to illumancy magic," he said, before picking up his sword and then sheathing it. "Well then, I suggest we go pay a visit to the people who did this to you. We... we are on an important mission, but this too is important. He who has the power to stop evil, and does nothing, is as guilty as the evildoers themselves." Aaron rolled his shoulders. "I'm ready for round two," he answered Jack. "Let's go be some big, damned heroes."

 

Aaron squinted when the girl just teleported them away. "No, no, yeah, that's fine, we give you our permission to teleport us. Thank you for asking first." He turned toward Jack. "Does something seem really weird about that girl to you? I'm starting to think she might not necessarily be Lina's little sister. Which... if that's the case..." he trailed off. He shook his head. "I don't want to make accusations until we know more."

Aaron patted Sagittarius's head. "Alright, buddy. You show us who did this to you, and we'll punish them, alright?" he said. Aaron rolled his shoulders. "Really makes you wonder if things like this are scripted, or if the NPC personalities are so versatile so as to allow some of them to be genuinely evil and deceitful..."

With that, Aaron would follow the deer until they reached the door of the Lamb inn. "Yeah... I am really starting to think that nothing that's happened since we got here has been anything like it's appeared to be at all," he said to Jack. He frowned. "I almost don't want to go in, because I have a sinking feeling I know exactly what we'll learn." He sighed and turned to face Jack fully. "Alright, I'm ready when you are, though. Let's do this."
@Jack Anders

 

There was something incredibly ironic about what was happening currently. As the two men were teleported, Jack couldn’t help but sigh and visibly plaster his palm against his face. “You know, if you think about it… there’s really only one real answer, right? If she’s the phoenix and stopped us from following Lina then…” A frown formed across the magician’s face as he’d look at the young doe for confirmation. A helpless shrug was given as he’d nod at Aaron’s assessment while tagging close behind.


Once the two had been lead to the Lamb Inn, a rough laugh was given as he’d slap his companion across the back. “Haa! Didn’t I want to go here in the first place? And to think – we coulda been spared of all that hassle!” Of course that wasn’t really the cause, but some part deep within the lad felt a bit salty about being driven about in a loop when his gut instinct was correct about the final destination anyway.

@Lyre

 

“Oh boy… didn’t see this coming.” His voice was dry and filled with an obvious displeasure as things had unfolded almost exactly as he had expected them to. It was a bit unfortunate considering he had originally liked the two NPCs and their dispositions, but it seemed as though the game had a more cruel fate in mind for the pair of sisters. Shaking his head regretfully as he watched the transformation unfold, he’d ready himself mentally while preparing a particular spell from the game’s interface (Protection from Fire).

After patting himself and Aaron, he’d quickly whisper into the other man’s ear. “That should help resist the flames some. Maybe we can subdue her and reverse the transformation? This doesn’t seem entirely voluntary…” There wouldn’t be much time left to chat. No sooner had Jack finished his words did the mutated Lina dive directly towards him.

Without taking much time to think, the magician would immediately dive to the underbelly of the creature, allowing it to dive overhead. Judging from the initial looks of the corrupted phoenix, the lower half as a whole seemed less draped in flames and looked rather chilly. As the creature would fly by, he’d reach up courageously with his left hand in an attempt to pull back fiercely at its tail feathers. As for what would happen? He wasn’t quite sure. Perhaps the duo would gain a few feathers for their original quest? If not, hopefully his efforts would at least temporarily stall the creature’s movements and ground it.

@Aaron Marone

 

Aaron turned when Jack said Molly was the phoenix. "Wait, what? What do you mean, she's the phoenix?" He asked. But it appeared he wouldn't have time to get an answer, as upon entering the inn, Lina appeared to be acting very strangely.

"Uh, there's something wrong with your voice," Aaron pointed out, hoping that was the entirety of the problem but knowing it wasn't. When Sagittarius backed away from Lina, Aaron frowned even further, and at her strange words, the frown became a grimace. "Likewise, there seems to be something wrong with your mind..."

Aaron drew his sword somberly at the complete transformation. "I don't know who this Synra is. But I feel they will be the next part of this quest." He nodded at Jack's words. "Do you think there's a chance that she is in the same situation as Saggitarius was?" He asked. He looked toward the deer, knowing it was intelligent and hoping it was intelligent enough to provide him some form of an answer.

Regardless, when the bird attacked, Aaron too would dive out of the way, opposite from Jack and therefore creating distance between them to encircle the bird - or at least, as well as two people could encircle one. Pincer it, he supposed, was the better terminology then. As he dove, he began to chant, preparing once more the enchantment of his sword. "Est quia omnis metallum. Est plus quam lex," he spoke again. His sword began to glow.

As Jack reached for the bird, Aaron lunged forward as well, hoping to use the man's action as a distraction to the bird if nothing else. His sword slashed toward the bird's wings, hoping to ground it. Once grounded, they could figure out if there would be a way to change it back into Lina, as well as find out if she was cursed by another, or if this path was one she had chosen for herself.

 

A small curse was muttered as Jack watched the feathers in hand dissipate slowly and crumble into dust. It was a nice try, though some part of him had genuinely hoped it’d work. After all, it’d never hurt to have an extra few of those revival items around, right? Alas, it was all wistful thinking however. His actions only served to irritate the creature even more so due to an opportunity created for Aaron to strike as a result of their combined efforts.

An idea had come to mind though. The phoenix now cawing in pain and trembling from their assault, Jack swiftly began mingling with the spell casting panel once more. He wouldn’t want to let their hard earned moment of relief to go to waste after all. “Here goes nothing… better pray this works, Aaron!”

Without warning, a ray of purifying light surged from the caster’s hand (Remove Curse). As it dawned upon the mutated monstrosity that was still in the process of self-repair, this holy light began to bath the former girl known as Lina in a warm and comforting sensation. The magician had attempted to eat away at the dark magic engulfing her.

Were his efforts in vain, he’d let out a sigh of frustration as the bird dove towards their doe companion with a merciless look in its eyes. A shout would be made at Aaron in hopes that he might be able to intercept. “Stop it! It’s going for the deer!”


@Aaron Marone