Phen
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Flames of Rebirth
The Flames of Rebirth, A power lost in the purge
Posts: 351
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Post by Phen on Dec 4, 2022 17:28:12 GMT -5
A man clad in white adorned with a blindfold about their face, yet travels with knowing certainty. Robes not unlike Sorin's though not covered by a the cloak of reeds, he held a fairly dignified appearance. That at least made him stand out among the guards and others in the town, and the abnormal garment would make him easy to recognize again. As Jax began to wander about, checking for possible hiding locations and some place to wait, Sorin did the same, looking about the open buildings to find a spot on the second floor to watch from on high without too much bother.
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Post by Wraith on Dec 4, 2022 22:09:15 GMT -5
The investigation would take some time as they looked through possible hiding spots or anything else that would be questionable to see. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary as the only things about were the symbols of Pride, the sword and scabbard crossed together that was emblazoned on things as per usual and even the same as they had seen on other objects to this location even. Everything seemed ordinary in the day and as a result betrayed nothing of the current circumstances, perhaps lending to their ability to pretend that nothing was going awry as it were. But with the sun beginning to dip further, night would be upon them soon. It was as the sun began to set that the symbols began to emit a black glow, a dark magic beginning to swell within them.
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Phen
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Flames of Rebirth
The Flames of Rebirth, A power lost in the purge
Posts: 351
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Post by Phen on Dec 6, 2022 21:24:25 GMT -5
Sorin had ended up on the second floor of one of the more traditional buildings, having noticed this national symbol of Pride basically as the only notable thing, though it seemed to be incorporated into every building and major feature. However it was only when the sun set that their existence was even noticed properly as several spots along the street bearing the sign lit up with a shadowy light. One of the glowing symbols even adorned a mantle in the room he was in. He began to take a step forward toward the symbol but hesitated, his shadow puddling around him and slowing his pace ever so slightly. Taking a hint, he turned on heel and glided down the stairs to find Jax in the street just after the glow began to relay whatever assurances he could.
"Naturally, this doesn't look very good. If there are this many spots contributing to this spell, I don't think we'll be able to avoid its effects no matter what it is. Just be prepared for anything I suppose." Anything indeed, as spells across this range for dark magic would normally need a potent source of energy or it was doing something weaker but over a large area.
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shast
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Followers of the Land
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Post by shast on Dec 7, 2022 18:53:17 GMT -5
Jax nods in acknowledgement of his companion. Something that had been taught to him by the druids was that magick isn't inherently good or bad, it was the manner that it was used. Potentially the city could be using dark means to achieve some semblence of order or investigation. Regardless, this was only a chance. A chance that Jax wasn't interested in being a factor in. Likely being unable to remove enough of these shadowy emblems alone Jax peered over the vista to try and spot some form of channeler for the ritual.
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Post by Wraith on Dec 8, 2022 5:14:51 GMT -5
Peering down the vista, a familiar figure could be seen. The one from earlier before they continued their investigation. The guards had begun to come up upon him already as he held a hand up, the symbols beginning to shine ever more brightly. A brown glow emitted from his raised hand, supplementing the dark magic as it was and bringing forth something as a result. It was here that the surrounding trees began to move and several figures in all black armor emerged. The guards who formed the encirclement found themselves surrounded, and soon found themselves routed just the same silently as the armored figures moved upon them with gleaming blue eyes as steel fell down upon those in the vicinity. Familiar armored figures at that as the man in white started on the move as the armored ones started walking as well, the sound of their movements sounding more akin to the march of a much larger group across the capital, perhaps in relation to the symbols being in many more areas and as a result having these figures appearing in many more areas than just the ones visible from the vista. For example... the ones near them began to exude similar as an armored figure began to approach them back from where Sorin had left from.
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Rubedo
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Emissaries of Change
"A pyre, changing through time."
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Post by Rubedo on Dec 10, 2022 9:09:33 GMT -5
The sun was beginning to set, which meant that it would be time to get started soon. The man would refer to them as 'festivities', but she didn't see any reason to call them as such. Seeing the glowing symbols and the dark magic involved was a sign that things were about to escalate sooner rather than later. No doubt his experiment that she was going to need to make sure he got done instead of veering off course. She would stand up, her rest concluded as she started walking, seeing the black knights that were forming. She wasn't personally worried about them unless something went wrong on his end, so she would just start making her way toward where the epicenter was. Due to this nation's stigma against magic, their possession of means to work against it or their higher level of knowledge about the inner workings left for gaps like these to be made. And before anyone would address her appearance, they would be focusing on the armored figures first and then her next if they just presumed her to be the source of their sudden arrival.
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shast
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Post by shast on Dec 10, 2022 12:34:14 GMT -5
The figure from before? The duo should have stopped the figure earlier in the day. However, hindsight is cruel like that. Now they were to contend with the consequences of their inactions. The townguard so thoroughly routed and the familiarity of the armored tipped Jax off that these may infact be the same figures that had raided his circle. If so, this was a stroke of fortune but also great threat. He would have his answers but first the two would need to get to the man. His clanking march made tracking easy but loose armors stood in their way. Jax brandished his bardiche and pointed to Sorin and then the emblem gyphs peppering the area.
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Phen
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Flames of Rebirth
The Flames of Rebirth, A power lost in the purge
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Post by Phen on Dec 10, 2022 15:22:11 GMT -5
Sorin nodded in agreement, though he wasn't really very sure about how he would disable them. "I'll see what I can do" he replied and disappeared once again into the same building, taking care to stay out of the way of the armors. No reason to provoke them on his side quite yet like Jax seemed to be prepared to do. Truth be told his expertise was self taught... or innate perhaps, so what to do about these was a bit of a mystery. Upon returning to that second floor with the symbol still glowing, Sorin would approach it and in turn his shadow began to bubble once again.
"Not happy about this one? You and me both..." Sorin trailed off to no one in particular, looking down back at his shadow which stood out even amid the darkness. The roiling mass was restless, moving about Sorin ready for defense as it has done many times before. Life had been about making sure it wouldn't need to appear, unable to control it if it lashed out in retaliation lead to many moves he had to make. Trust was not easily gained, but it was easily broken, and the groups he lived with rarely saw it safe after an incident involving this shadow.
Removing the bandages from his left arm, he would expose an nearly entirely black scaled arm. His fingers would normally extend to claws if not for meticulous clipping of them to look like more standard human hands, but it was clear with the bandages off to the lack of onlookers that his arm was like the traits of a Lecross retaining its humanoid shape. Kneeling down to his liquid shadow he touched it with the left arm and it began to crawl up the scales. "Alright Sizz'ik, I'll work with you this time if you think you can do something about this." Sorin spoke to the force in his shadow, a name he knew intrinsically but rarely used, as it was rare that their goals aligned properly. Once the encroachment on his arm stopped, covering his scaled arm in pitch darkness, Sorin stood once again before the sigil and placed his hand before it.
The darkness on his arm, upon nearing the symbol itself, grew more violent and would swirl upon his arm in a maelstrom of shadows. He could feel something big coming, and from the swirling shadows did the head of a dragon emerge on his hand. The shadow dragon's open maw lunged at the symbol, taking a great bite into it. The wall the symbol was adorned upon was splintered as the teeth in the mouth crunched around the symbol to devour it whole.
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Post by Wraith on Dec 10, 2022 20:24:23 GMT -5
Devouring the symbol whole, Sorin could see a reflection of himself. It was strange at first, but it appeared to be right in front of him. It raised a hand toward him that began to decay, crumbling away as skin, meat, and bone all collapsed into a horrible mess upon the ground in front of him. And at the end of it all a fire rose, seemingly engulfing the dark mage entirely.
When he came back to his senses, he would notice that the black knight that was upon them had vanished, meaning that Jax had eluded facing one once again or his answers as well. It was an answer to part of their mystery but posed another dilemma. Sorin had no answers for the visions he saw, but he could at least relay and confirm that the symbols might be connected to the ones that appeared out of thin air. Some of the others hadn't been the same, but reasonably speaking their symbols might have simply not been in the same location as the ones here if they all functioned under similar magic. Not to mention that any disruption wouldn't go unnoticed in a situation where they expected there to be no disruption at all. The goals aligned and the call to action there, how would they go about this? And what would the plan be to contend with the mastermind that was still on the loose as well?
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Phen
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Flames of Rebirth
The Flames of Rebirth, A power lost in the purge
Posts: 351
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Post by Phen on Dec 11, 2022 0:13:30 GMT -5
This vision provided by devouring the magic was a terrifying sight, its meaning deeply concerning and causing him to stumble back as he regained his senses and checked his body for signs of the flame that engulfed him and finding minor relief that it was of the vision alone. Taking a look down his arm was still covered in pitch shadow, and that which bubbled at his feet had calmed returning his cast shadow to normal. At least it was calm for the time being, he brought his arm into his cloak and made sure it was covered, wiped his brow of sweat, then hurried down the stairs. At the base and running to Jax's side would be the best opportunity to relay as much as he could.
"Oh- Okay. This could be very bad after all. I'm not sure what he's trying to do but whatever it is I don't think it bodes well for this city's people. If we destroy the glowing symbols we can thin their ranks I think. I took out one with... magic, but it stole my senses for a moment. I need you to keep most of them busy while I deal with as many of these symbols as I can. I don't know if you should try to strike the ones on the street though, I got a vision of death when I took one out, it could be dangerous to make direct contact."
With his piece said, and knowing Jax wasn't likely to reply back at this point, he ran to the next symbol he could see glowing from the street and in turn the shadows on his arm began to roil. With his free hand he pulled his grimoire and the gold etchings shone to the open book, emitting the miasmatic mist for a moment as it formed from particles in the air to sharp darts into the symbol, though his arm grew more violent, he pulled his cloak in again to keep it contained, not wanting to subject himself to the vision or loss of sense again.
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shast
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Post by shast on Dec 11, 2022 9:36:41 GMT -5
The shadowed armor approached the weapon ready Jax but as it neared him collapsed into darkness. He and his companions hunch must have been correct. At Sorins return, update, and subsequent departure the warrior moved to support him in his endeavor. Keeping in mind not to strike or touch these emblems directly. As he moved Jax attempted to keep an eye on the surroundings not only for shadowed armors or the ringleader, but for other potential allies or threats.
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Post by Wraith on Dec 11, 2022 13:54:58 GMT -5
The darts would strike the following symbol, damaging it but not completely dissipating the effects in one go. The result was another armored figure beginning to spawn from this one, a showing that multiple could form from one over time. He could likely strike it again to halt it again as Jax could observe the panic that began to envelope the streets. The citizens and guards that were being caught up and engaged with the figures as they brandished steel against them, being overpowered and routed over time. It was clear that the guards weren't prepared to do battle with this strange organization no more than the circle had been that had been decimated almost to the last, an ill omen for what could be the intention behind this brazen attack.
As expected, the armored figures paid the woman no heed as they continued their attack. There was one that was different than the others, having spikes protruding from various points of his armor as he rode a black steed with ominous red eyes that left a streak behind with its movements. It dispersed into black mist at her arrival, the knight himself landing on the ground after effectively dismounting and offering a bow to her. From her point of view, she could make out a clear path of where the carnage was leading, so getting there to convene with the leader would be of no consequence save for any stragglers who managed to surmount the black knights who assaulted now.
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Rubedo
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Emissaries of Change
"A pyre, changing through time."
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Post by Rubedo on Dec 11, 2022 15:42:28 GMT -5
She recognized this one just as it recognized her. The formalities were unnecessary, but nothing that she would remind it about. It was part of their nature, and it chose to accept that rather than fight against it. Things were looking apace minus missing a specific number in an area. ...That was probably due to interference and someone who happened to catch wind of what was happening. Tearing out the wall with just their swords was unlikely however, seeing as it was more designed to cut through people rather than fortified structures. ...It was her job to make sure he got this done right, she supposed.
"Aendross, go and hunt down whoever looks apart from the people here. It's likely a traveler who got put in the crosshairs accidentally, so ignore anyone who looks native here. I'll go meet with William."
To inform him that he should be more thorough next time as well as to pass on the other messages. She would start on her way to the largest pagoda, no doubt where William planned to produce the largest spectacle of them all here. No reason for her to not assist in order to have a smoother time of it while Aendross should be sufficient for anything else without having to draw attention to others like herself in their own inner circle.
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shast
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Post by shast on Dec 11, 2022 15:58:32 GMT -5
Jax took his weapon and brought it down on the armored figure as it formed, attempting to stifle it's conjuration long enough for Sorin to complete the destruction of its tether. He locks eyes with a scrambling guard and with a free hand he points to a group of citizens, and then gestures to the city walls. While asking a prideful guard to admit defeat of the city may be a difficult ask, it wasn't unreasonable to ask them to succeed at least as a civil savior. The attack on his circle was similar to this, but he and his comrades learned nothing of their assaulters in the darkness. If he couldn't deter this bloodbath from happening he could at least take advantage of its occurence to learn as much as possible about his prey.
With that same freehand Jax picks up a large rock and throws it at another emblem. While direct contact may come with risk perhaps something as simple as a stone could also sabotage these glyphs.
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Phen
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Flames of Rebirth
The Flames of Rebirth, A power lost in the purge
Posts: 351
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Post by Phen on Dec 11, 2022 17:07:21 GMT -5
Sorin slouched as he tried to further contain the swirling beast on his arm, his inability to disable this emblem meant it was still trying to devour it. Falling to a knee and trying to keep his arm still he shot a needle from what remained of the beast at his feet, slicing up across the symbol to finally disable it. Panting and clutching his arm now with free hand, it wasn't looking like this would be a viable option for much longer. Nodding back to Jax in appreciation for his guard, he looked in desperation at the symbols they had left to disable. He wasn't sure how long he could stop the beast from its goal of consumption when he got close enough to deal with them, and he certainly didn't want to visit the vision again. Nor was he keen on trying fate if the vision was in fact a warning.
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Post by Wraith on Dec 11, 2022 22:32:29 GMT -5
It was certainly a difficult ask, to admit that they were incapable of besting this unknown threat. But looking around the guard to see the people that were in danger or already slain, being a savior was still something to do at least. And so the one that was directed would swallow his pride and fear alike and start to lead people away. Thanks to Jax buying Sorin time, he was able to disperse of the one that was forming. As the large rock was being sent toward the next symbol, a lance came from above that struck it down the middle and shattered it into the wind as dust, black mist falling down as the prancing of a horse could be heard before glowing eyes could be seen. An armored hand would pick up that very same lance, the armored form of Aendross having arrived from above, having seen to his duty as instructed as Rozalin was allowed to continue on her path. And the confrontation that was at hand was much different than any other that had occurred. [Foolish Pawns of the Flame - The Ancient Flame]
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